Is $48,000 a good salary in Oklahoma?

$48,000 in Oklahoma provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,215 after taxes. Across major Oklahoma cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,263.

What is the cost of living on $48,000 in Oklahoma?

The average monthly living cost across major Oklahoma cities is approximately $1,952 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $48,000 take-home pay of $3,215/month, you would have roughly $1,263/month remaining.

Living in Oklahoma · 2026

Is $48,000 enough to live in Oklahoma?

Single adult · OK · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,215

Avg monthly expenses

$1,952

Avg monthly surplus

$1,263

Savings potential

~39%

After-tax take-home in Oklahoma

Gross salary$48,000

Federal income tax− $3,654

State income tax− $2,092

Social Security− $2,976

Medicare− $696

Annual take-home$38,582

Effective tax rate19.62%

How $48,000 feels in Oklahoma cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Oklahoma City

COL index: 0.90× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$396

Transport

$158

Utilities

$149

Healthcare

$180

Total: $1,983/mo

Surplus: $1,232/mo

Rent burden: 34.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Oklahoma City analysis →

Tulsa

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$387

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,928/mo

Surplus: $1,287/mo

Rent burden: 32.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Tulsa analysis →

Norman

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$396

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $1,998/mo

Surplus: $1,217/mo

Rent burden: 34.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Norman analysis →

Broken Arrow

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$392

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,933/mo

Surplus: $1,282/mo

Rent burden: 32.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Broken Arrow analysis →

Lawton

COL index: 0.83× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$374

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,722/mo

Surplus: $1,493/mo

Rent burden: 28.0% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Lawton analysis →

Edmond

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$418

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,148/mo

Surplus: $1,067/mo

Rent burden: 37.3% — High (35–50%)

Full Edmond analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,215 ($38,580/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,608

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$965

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$643

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$19,290

Wants / year

$11,574

Savings / year

$7,716

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Oklahoma City

Rent takes 34% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 6.9/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $48,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with approximately $1,232/month (~38% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Oklahoma City is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.90). $48,000 here is roughly equivalent to $98,667 in San Francisco or $46,933 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$48,000 is 35% above the Oklahoma individual median ($35,500) and 14% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$35,500

+35%

State household median

$61,364

-22%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$48,000 vs. Oklahoma income benchmarks

Individual median (Oklahoma)

$35,500

+35% vs. this salary

Household median (Oklahoma)

$61,364

-22% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Oklahoma

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.