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Oklahoma City has emerged as the most affordable large U.S. metro in the latest Cost of Living Index, a designation that could influence decisions by workers and businesses weighing relocation or expansion this year. The Council for Community and Economic Research’s 2026 Q1 report highlights unusually low living costs in the metro — especially for housing — making the area stand out among 272 urban regions surveyed.
What the numbers show
The metro’s overall score on C2ER’s index came in at 81.0, which the organization frames against a national average of 100. Put simply, Oklahoma City’s composite score signals costs roughly 19% below the U.S. benchmark; the city also ranked first for affordability among metros with populations over 500,000 and tied for the fourth-lowest composite among all areas included in the study.
- Composite: 81.0 (down 0.9 points from 2025 Q3)
- Grocery: 94.2 (+0.7)
- Housing: 60.2 (+1.0)
- Utilities: 94.2 (–3.7)
- Transportation: 84.0 (–4.5)
- Health care: 94.1 (–1.2)
- Miscellaneous goods & services: 87.5
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Housing remains the clearest affordability advantage: a housing index of 60.2 equates to prices and related costs nearly 40% below the national average. Transportation, utilities and health care all sit below the 100 mark as well, reinforcing a broad-based cost gap in favor of Oklahoma City.
How C2ER measures cost of living
The quarterly Cost of Living Index compares regional prices for a basket of consumer goods and services across six categories: housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, health care and miscellaneous items. C2ER’s composite score is a weighted snapshot intended to show how expensive — or inexpensive — a metro is relative to the U.S. average.
Because the index is updated regularly, small quarter-to-quarter shifts (like the 0.9-point decline in Oklahoma City’s composite) can reflect changes in local prices, seasonal factors and broader economic trends rather than long-term structural shifts.
Why this matters now
Lower living costs affect everyday choices: from where households decide to live to how employers set wages and benefits. For workers considering relocation, the gap in housing costs in particular could make Oklahoma City an attractive option compared with other large metros where rents and home prices remain elevated.
Municipal leaders and businesses may interpret the data differently. Cheaper living costs can draw talent and boost employer competitiveness, but they also shape policy conversations about wages, affordable housing supply and public services funding.
As the year progresses, observers will be watching whether Oklahoma City’s cost advantages hold or narrow — especially in housing and transportation — and how local markets respond to shifting demand.
