Oklahoma City continues to be one of the most affordable places to live in the country, according to new data from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). In the second quarter of 2025, OKC ranked first in affordability among all U.S. cities with a population over 500,000. Among all 245 urban areas surveyed, OKC had the sixth lowest cost of living overall.
The city’s composite index was 81.5, which is 18.5 points below the national average of 100. The city’s composite score declined by 0.8 points compared to the 2024 annual average, reflecting changes across several spending categories. Housing remained the most affordable category for OKC, with an index of 56.9, down 3.2 points from the previous year. Healthcare also saw a notable decrease, falling 4.7 points to 99.2.
Transportation costs decreased by 4.4 points to 86.9, while grocery prices increased slightly to 95.4, up 0.5 points. Utilities rose by 2.2 points to 99.0. Miscellaneous goods and services increased by 1.5 points to 87.5…