Living in Oklahoma City: Urban Charm and Southern Hospitality

Few places feel as American as Oklahoma City, which shares the personality of all the states surrounding it. There’s Southern hospitality, Midwest charm, and the pioneer spirit of the Rockies. But while the people are warm, hospitable, and hard-working, they’re not the only reason why the area’s become a magnet for families and young professionals. Low prices, an expanding economy, and growing urban amenities have transformed it from a remote farming town into a modern commercial and cultural hub. If you’ve never considered life in OKC, here are a few things you ought to know about living in Oklahoma City.

Low-Cost Lifestyle

Oklahoma City has the second lowest cost of living in the United States, fifteen percent below the national average. Here, you pay less for everything: groceries, utilities, transportation, entertainment ‒ even childcare! Housing is particularly budget-friendly. In 2024, the average cost of a home in Oklahoma City is a little more than half what it is in most other cities. What’s more, most renters pay under $1,000 a month for their apartments, $500-$700 less than what they would in the rest of the country.

Diversifying Economy

For decades, Oklahoma was dominated by oil and agriculture. For most of the state’s history, the majority of residents made their living through wheat, cattle, poultry, petroleum, and natural gas. But now all that’s starting to change. While oil and agriculture still play a major role in Oklahoma City (it has some of the biggest stockyards in the country, as well as some of the country’s biggest energy companies), it's spent the last twenty years slowly expanding into new areas: aerospace, education, biotechnology, manufacturing, and IT.

There are over 300 aviation firms operating in the greater Oklahoma City area and annual revenue for the city’s bioscience firms is estimated at around $4 billion. The state exported over $6 billion in manufactured goods last year, mostly chemicals, computer components, fabricated metals, and transportation equipment.

Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and the University of Central Oklahoma are some of the largest employers in the city and surrounding area, along with UPS, Coca-Cola, Farmers Insurance, and Deaconess Hospital. There is even a budding startup sector, with firms working on the next generation of robotics, financial software, and artificial intelligence.

The city added 48,000 new jobs last year, which explains why most new residents are of working age and join the labor force at higher than expected rates. Entrepreneurs are also moving in, drawn by the state’s low corporate taxes and educated workforce. New businesses increased by fourteen percent last year and are expected to grow by a similar amount this year.

Minimal Commutes

One of the advantages of living in Oklahoma City is that it rarely takes more than thirty minutes to get from one side of town to the other. The city has the 9th shortest commute in the United States. New residents, used to gridlock and congestion, are amazed at how easy it is to get around, even during rush hour.

Mouthwatering Cuisine

Oklahoma City is one of those places where you can find whatever you’re craving, be it pho, sushi, ramen, pizza, dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken, California oysters, Indian samosas, or German schnitzel. But if there is one thing it’s famous for, it’s barbeque.

The city combines the best of Texas, Kansas City, and the Southern United States to create some of the most mouthwatering meals you’ve ever tasted: ribs, brisket, and pork butt seasoned with 10-rub spices and flavored with strong, sweet, sour, smoky, and tangy molasses, then slow cooked for hours to infuse it with a deep hickory, maple, or mesquite flavor.

But Oklahomans don’t just enjoy barbeque, they celebrate it. Thousands go to eat their fill at the Bixby BBQ'n Blues Festival, Texas Food Fest, and the Exchange Club Chili & BBQ Cook-Off, held every year just outside of town, which features some of the finest cuts of beef, pork, and chicken served anywhere in the state.

For those with more diverse tastes, there is a whole host of other tantalizing food events, including:

Huckleberry Festival
El Reno Fried Onion Burger Day Festival
Prague Kolache Festival
Watonga Cheese & Wine Festival
Wild Brew Craft Beer Festival
Rush Springs Watermelon Festival & Rodeo
Big Bite Food Festival
Oklahoma Soul Food Festival

Food trucks have also been gaining popularity, with 125 of them delivering food to hungry residents throughout the city, 365 days a year. Scissortail Park, the Wheeler District, and City Garden in Midtown are the best places to find them. Some have become so popular, they’ve started opening brick-and-mortar locations as well.

Big and Busy Downtown

Oklahoma City has transformed its downtown into a bustling center for dining, shopping, and entertainment. By far the biggest attraction is Bricktown, a former warehouse district now filled with restaurants, nightclubs, and sports centers. On any given weekend, you’ll find comedy shows, baseball games, dueling pianos, laser tag, and miniature golf.

With plenty of shade and public squares, the neighborhood is a pleasant place for a walk and most visitors are happy to get about on foot. But it’s far more fun to grab a water taxi instead. The Bricktown Canal runs right through the shops and attractions, straight down to the Oklahoma River. Visitors can hop on and enjoy a pleasant cruise, disembarking to explore their favorite bars, boutiques, and art galleries whenever they please.

History and Culture

Oklahoma City is a cross section of American society. The town is a blend of traditions and ethnicities. Besides the Native Americans, there are also Czech, Irish, Polish, Asian, Hispanic, and African-American communities. Residents can explore the city’s diverse heritage throughout the year, through the town’s museums and public events, such as:

Red Earth Festival. Showcases Native art and culture from across North America, with visiting tribes coming from hundreds of miles away to share their customs and ancient beliefs. Held every year at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, it offers visitors a first hand look at Indigenous costumes, arts, crafts, music, and dance.
Asian Night Market Festival. Hosted by the Asian District Cultural Association, this annual gathering gives Oklahomans the opportunity to experience East Asian cuisine, culture, and fashion with live shows and dozens of vendors from all over the city.
Juneteenth on the East. In addition to its Martin Luther King Jr. parade, Oklahoma city celebrates its African-American heritage with bands, food, and wild street parties that commemorate the end of slavery in America.
Fiestas de las Américas. Held during Hispanic Heritage Month, this multi-day festival highlights the art, music, and contributions of Hispanic Americans with handicrafts, cultural exhibitions, and one of the most colorful parades in the city.
Celtic Festival. Watch traditional Irish dances and learn about the seven Celtic Nations at this fun, fast-paced dive into the beauty and spirit of the Emerald Isle.
Oklahoma Czech Festival. Celebrate Czech and Slovak history! The polka bands and folk dancing last all day long. Visitors can feast on hundreds of koláče (Czech pastries) and klobasy sausages while they wait for the Royalty Coronation Ball, where the festival’s king and queen are officially crowned.

Moving to Oklahoma City

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