City comparison
Akron, OH vs Oklahoma City, OK
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 3.3% higher than in Oklahoma City, OK. Someone earning $100,000 in Oklahoma City, OK would need about $103,300 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $985 a month in Akron, OH and $1,017 in Oklahoma City, OK.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,987 a year higher in Oklahoma City, OK than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Oklahoma City, OK ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.1% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Oklahoma City, OK: price level 90.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Oklahoma City, OK | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 90.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,828 in Oklahoma City | $103,276 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,017/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,226 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,955 (OK) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $47,230 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Oklahoma City, OK HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Oklahoma City, OK.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 73.9 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.5 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 90.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Oklahoma City, OK
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.3%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$1,987/yr.
79 Strong offer
Oklahoma City, OK → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,987/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Oklahoma City, OK is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Oklahoma City, OK at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Oklahoma City, OK | Real change, Akron → Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Oklahoma City, OK | Oklahoma City pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $48,780 | $50,378 (−35.9%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $122,390 | $126,400 (+19.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $77,280 | $79,812 (+1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $82,920 | $85,637 (+6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.