Moving from Oklahoma City to Dallas
Your paycheck buys 8.1% less in Dallas than in Oklahoma City; you'd need about $82,700 to break even. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Dallas: $82,700
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $82,700 in Dallas, TX to match $75,000 in Oklahoma City, OK ($7,700 more), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Texas has no state income tax on wages; Oklahoma does; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Oklahoma City vs Dallas: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,162 → $1,718/mo
- Median home value
- $253,200 → $389,500
- Median household income
- $72,930 → $92,733
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 90.4 → 103.1
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (91.7 → 96.5 of 100)
Oklahoma City vs Dallas cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Oklahoma City, OK | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 90.4 | 103.1 |
| Median rent | $1,162 | $1,718 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $46,480 | $68,720 |
| Median home value | $253,200 | $389,500 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $1,716 | $2,718 |
| Income needed to buy | $73,547 | $116,495 |
| Median property tax | $2,278 | $5,616 |
| State income tax on $75,000 | $2,830 | $0 |
| Metro population | 1,497,821 | 8,344,032 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
At higher incomes, especially for homeowners, itemizing state and local taxes (deductible up to $40,400 in 2026) can lower your federal tax while you live in Oklahoma City, which narrows the gap shown.
Your yearly budget: Oklahoma City vs Dallas
On a $75,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $42,050 a year in Oklahoma City and $47,251 in Dallas if you rent: $5,201 more after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $48,699 and $59,254 ($10,555 more).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | Oklahoma CityBefore | DallasAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $75,000, single filer | $16,237 | $13,408 | -$2,829 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,585 | $1,965 | +$380 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,084 | $1,429 | +$345 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $1,952 | $1,901 | -$51 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,248 | $7,932 | +$684 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $13,944 | $20,616 | +$6,672 |
| Total if you rent | $42,050 | $47,251 | +$5,201 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $16,090 | $24,752 | +$8,662 |
| Property tax median home | $2,278 | $5,616 | +$3,338 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $2,225 | $2,251 | +$26 |
| Total if you buy | $48,699 | $59,254 | +$10,555 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $10,809 a year in Oklahoma City and $11,349 in Dallas (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Oklahoma City to Dallas
About 1,516 households (2,395 people) moved from the Oklahoma City metro area to the Dallas metro area in 2022–2023, making Dallas the #1 destination for people leaving Oklahoma City among the 149 metro areas we cover. 1,538 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $76,108.
Cost to move from Oklahoma City to Dallas
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $320–$660 |
| Moving container | $1,100–$2,070 |
| Full-service movers | $1,840–$4,990 |
Natural hazard risk: Oklahoma City vs Dallas
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Oklahoma City area among the highest (score 91.7) and the Dallas area among the highest (score 96.5), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $420 vs $390 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Dallas cheaper than Oklahoma City?
Overall prices in the Dallas area are 14.0% higher than in Oklahoma City (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,718 vs $1,162 a month, and the median home is $389,500 vs $253,200.
What salary do I need in Dallas to match $100,000 in Oklahoma City?
About $109,400, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Texas has no state income tax on wages; Oklahoma does.
How much does it cost to move from Oklahoma City to Dallas?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 220 miles: roughly $320–$660 with a rental truck, $1,100–$2,070 with a container, or $1,840–$4,990 with full-service movers.
How many people move from Oklahoma City to Dallas?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 1,516 households (2,395 people) moved from the Oklahoma City metro area to the Dallas metro area, and 1,538 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Oklahoma City move
- Oklahoma City to Tulsa 1,393 households
- Houston 412 households
- Denver 265 households
- Austin 240 households
- Phoenix 233 households
- Los Angeles 226 households
- Seattle 199 households
- Wichita 161 households