Oklahoma City has been named the No. 1 Best Big City to Live for the 2025–26 U.S. News and World Report rankings, underscoring the metro’s national rise as a destination for both opportunity and quality of life.
Oklahoma ranks as the third most affordable state in the country for monthly household bills, according to an article from CNBC, which utilized a report from bill pay service doxo.
Oklahoma ranks as the second most affordable state for retirement, according to a report published by Visual Capitalist.
Edmond ranked No. 22 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Places to Live, placing the city in the top 10% of more than 850 cities reviewed nationwide.
The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) has released its Quarter 1 2025 Cost of Living Index. Among the 251 urban areas surveyed, the after-tax cost for a professional or managerial lifestyle ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) to more than 20% below the national average in Harlingen, Texas.
Oklahoma is attracting thousands of new residents each year, drawn by its affordable housing, job opportunities, and quality of life. In 2023 alone, more than 25,000 people moved to the state, according to a recent migration study by StorageCafe using the latest U.S. Census data. This steady influx placed Oklahoma among the top 10 states for net migration.
Oklahoma City is holding steady as the most affordable large city in the U.S., according to the 2024 annual Cost of Living Index (COLI) from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Among cities with populations over 500,000, Oklahoma City ranks #1 for the lowest cost of living.
Oklahoma City’s Western heritage remains a strong influence, with cowboy culture visible in events, museums, and the Stockyards City district. While staying true to its roots, the city is becoming more cosmopolitan, thanks to a growing dining and entertainment scene.
