City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh. Oklahoma City averages 61°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,130 versus $1,261.
Oklahoma City is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Pittsburgh in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh are 1,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $131 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $2,914 (4%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 25 points (14%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City are 1,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $131 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $2,914 (4%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 25 points (16%).
Oklahoma City, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 10% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Oklahoma City is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,572, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Oklahoma City still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Pittsburgh.
Planning to buy in Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 4% higher than Pittsburgh
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Oklahoma City (about $2,914 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
14% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 14% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Pittsburgh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Pittsburgh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Oklahoma City. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
46% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 46% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 46% 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 Pittsburgh 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 4% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than Oklahoma City (158 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
Oklahoma City runs 61°F typical weather against 51°F in Pittsburgh (comfort scores 89 vs 61). Housing is $1,130/month versus $1,261/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $131 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Pick Pittsburgh when 51°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Oklahoma City's case rests on 61°F you prefer and $1,130 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Oklahoma City when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in OK and PA.
