Experience Oklahoma City through the eyes of newcomers

Oklahoma City is a thriving metropolis with a low cost of living, short commute times, big-league quality of life and a diversified economy. For those reasons, Oklahoma City welcomes thousands of new residents looking for a better life each year, and the Chamber wants to make sure they can find their place in our community. One resource is ABetterLifeOKC.com, a newly redesigned relocation resource that includes information on living and working in Oklahoma City. One new aspect of the website is its resident spotlights, where you can read firsthand what recent transplants have to say about living in the Greater Oklahoma City region. Read on for an excerpt of their thoughts, or read their responses for yourself. 

Resident Spotlights: abetterlifeokc.com

Name: Karla Almeida-Arias
Moved to OKC from: Fort Smith, AR, in 2019
Employer: Arvest Bank

What has been the biggest surprise about OKC to you?

Almeida-Arias: My biggest surprise when I came to Oklahoma City was the culture. People are so kind and welcoming. I never expected to feel so welcomed when I first moved here but it has been a great experience. Oklahoma City has plenty of places to go to such as restaurants, lakes and parks. I have enjoyed my weekends discovering new places around Oklahoma City. My husband and I love going bike riding to Lake Hefner as well as tasting all the different restaurants on Bricktown. OKC has definitely been a surprise to me.

I always thought moving to a bigger city that it was going to be difficult for me to get around, but it has been easy. I currently live in Yukon, but it only takes less than 20 minutes to get downtown.

Name: Sam Eagleson
Moved to OKC in: June 2012
Employer: Center for Employment Opportunities

What is your favorite thing about living in OKC?

Eagleson: My favorite thing about OKC is that you can go from a ‘small town feeling’ of seeing the impact of your daily actions to a ‘big city feeling’ where you are lost in a sprawling sea of fans at an NBA game.

Name: Monica Ybarra
Moved to OKC from: Amarillo, Texas, in 2011
Employer: Phillips Murrah P.C.

What would you say to someone thinking about moving to OKC?

Ybarra: You will feel at home in no time! The people here, whether they’ve been here for generations or they recently relocated here, are very welcoming. They will embrace your talents and respect your contributions to the city.

Name: Will Syring
Moved to OKC from: Chicago, IL, in 2019
Employer: The Oklahoma City Thunder

What is your favorite thing about living in OKC?

Syring: Besides the weather and the cost of living -- especially coming from Chicago -- it’s the people. People make the place anywhere you are and OKC has the most genuine, down to earth, happy people. I challenge you to find better culture than the folks right here in Oklahoma. 

Name: Sawyer Pehkonen
Moved to OKC from: Fort Collins, CO, in 2015
Employer: OGE Energy Corp.

What has been the biggest surprise about OKC to you?

Pehkonen: The growth and similarity to my hometown back in Colorado. I love the “hole-in-the-wall” coffee shops, hipster restaurants and green scenery. The trees and parks are absolutely beautiful here and there is much more to do than I expected!

Name: Leslie Griffin
Moved to OKC from: Houston, Texas, in 2014
Employer: Chesapeake Energy

What would you say to someone thinking about moving to OKC?

Griffin: DO IT! You will love it. We have such a wonderful quality of life. It is so affordable to live in OKC. It is a place where you truly can have it all and make it all work. There are great places to live and work. Additionally, there are loads of cool things to do here in OKC. We're looking forward to the new Scissortail Park. But there are so many things to do already, such as perusing art in the Paseo, seeing a show at the Oklahoma City Civic Center, taking your kids to the zoo, and attending a baseball game in Bricktown.