City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and St Louis split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 169 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $997 in St Louis.
Oklahoma City is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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 crime gap is citywide. Oklahoma City has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and St Louis are 459 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $997 a month in St Louis, down $133 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $56,160 in St Louis, down $12,496 (18%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 352 in St Louis, up 169 points (92%).
The move
St Louis and Oklahoma City are 459 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $133 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $12,496 (22%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 169 points (48%).
Oklahoma City, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Oklahoma City and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
St Louis rent is 12% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so St Louis is 12% 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 $1,596, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Oklahoma City.
Planning to buy in Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 22% higher than St Louis
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Oklahoma City (about $12,496 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, Oklahoma City is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
48% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 48% lower than St Louis
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 11% more comfortable than St Louis
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 11% 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 St Louis 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% 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.
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 48% lower than St Louis (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Oklahoma City leads on safety (42/100 vs 22/100 in St Louis). Typical rent is $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $997 in St Louis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Oklahoma City's $1,130, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is ahead on safety (42/100 vs 22/100); St Louis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $997/month rent plus $56,160 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and St Louis, plus other cities in OK and MO.
