City comparison
No. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Oklahoma City split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 78 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia and Oklahoma City are 1,257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $267 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $6,703 (11%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 78 points (30%).
The move
Oklahoma City and Philadelphia are 1,257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $267 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $6,703 (10%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 261 in Philadelphia, up 78 points (43%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 19% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Oklahoma City is 19% 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 $3,204, 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 Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 11% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Oklahoma City (about $6,703 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
30% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 30% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Oklahoma City
Winner68°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Oklahoma City averages about 68°F (79°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oklahoma City scores 20% 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
On these five categories Oklahoma City takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Philadelphia because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Philadelphia only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
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 19% 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 11% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 30% lower than Philadelphia (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Oklahoma City leads on safety (42/100 vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (42/100 in Oklahoma City vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Philadelphia and 68°F in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is ahead on safety (42/100 vs 31/100); Philadelphia is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,397/month rent plus $61,953 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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