Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 12 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($196,700 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $410/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,422)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Tampa by $2,551/yr
Tampa, FL
Pros
34% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $2,551 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Oklahoma City
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$137k less
$196,700 vs $333,200
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Median Income
$2,551
$66,802 vs $64,251/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
34% lower
444.6 vs 676.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 12 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 12 and Tampa wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Oklahoma City to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($64,251 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Tampa, FL are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.