City comparison
No. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The cost gap between Denver and Oklahoma City is the real story here. Oklahoma City comes in 38% cheaper on typical rent ($1,831 vs $1,130), which over a year adds up to $8,412. Median household income runs $94,718 in Denver and $68,656 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Oklahoma City is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Oklahoma City at $1,130 average has pockets that run $930 and others at $1,530: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Denver and Oklahoma City are 504 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $701 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $26,062 (28%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 88 points (32%).
The move
Oklahoma City and Denver are 504 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $701 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $94,718 in Denver, up $26,062 (38%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 271 in Denver, up 88 points (48%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oklahoma City, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 38% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,831 in Denver, so Oklahoma City is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $701/month back in your pocket ($8,412/year). Over five years that's $42,060 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Oklahoma City is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Denver's median income is 38% higher than Oklahoma City
Denver
Winner$94,718
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Denver (about $26,062 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Oklahoma City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 32% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Oklahoma City. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Oklahoma City is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 16% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
60°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 86/100
Oklahoma City
Winner68°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 60°F (70°F highs); Oklahoma City averages about 68°F (79°F highs). Denver averages around 60°F. Oklahoma City sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oklahoma City scores 16% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Denver if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 38% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Oklahoma City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 16%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Oklahoma City is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Denver (183 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Oklahoma City undercuts Denver by $701/month ($1,130 vs $1,831). I would not pick Denver on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Oklahoma City rent at $1,130/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Denver and 42/100 in Oklahoma City.
Between Denver and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City is ahead on housing cost — $1,130/month rent against $1,831. Lean Denver instead when your $94,718 income offer in Denver outweighs saving $701/month in Oklahoma City.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Oklahoma City, plus other cities in CO and OK.
