City comparison
Oklahoma City is safer than Seattle. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Oklahoma City is significant: $123,860 median household versus $68,656. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,130 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. Seattle 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
Seattle and Oklahoma City are 1,523 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $900 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $55,204 (45%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 69 points (27%).
The move
Oklahoma City and Seattle are 1,523 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $900 a month (80%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $123,860 in Seattle, up $55,204 (80%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 252 in Seattle, up 69 points (38%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 44% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Oklahoma City is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $900/month back in your pocket ($10,800/year). Over five years that's $54,000 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 Seattle, 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
80% higher
Seattle's median income is 80% higher than Oklahoma City
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 80% higher in Seattle (about $55,204 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, Seattle 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
27% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 27% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 52% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Oklahoma City
Winner68°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Oklahoma City averages about 68°F (79°F highs). Seattle averages around 53°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 52% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 80% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 44% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 52%. Seattle 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 27% lower than Seattle (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 Seattle by $900/month ($1,130 vs $2,030). I would not pick Seattle on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Oklahoma City rent at $1,130/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Seattle and 68°F in Oklahoma City.
Between Seattle and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City is ahead on housing cost — $1,130/month rent against $2,030. Lean Seattle instead when your $123,860 income offer in Seattle outweighs saving $900/month in Oklahoma City.
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 Seattle and Oklahoma City, plus other cities in WA and OK.
