Alabama
AL • South
Quality of Life Score
47.01
State Comparison
Alabama vs Oklahoma
$100 goes further in Alabama, while Oklahoma has higher incomes, Oklahoma has lower state income tax, and Oklahoma gets more sunshine.
Alabama
12
/ 29
metrics won
Score
VS
Oklahoma
17
/ 29
metrics won
OK wins Housing
OK wins Climate
OK wins Quality of Life
AL wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alabama
winner
vs
Oklahoma
Alabama scores higher on quality of life — 0.67 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Oklahoma is 0.0 points cheaper overall
Oklahoma has the lower cost-of-living index. Oklahoma is at 88.6, while Alabama is at 88.6.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.97 further in Alabama
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $114.62 of local buying power in Alabama, versus $113.65 in Oklahoma.
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Income
Oklahoma income is 3.7% higher
Oklahoma has the higher median household income at $56,956, compared with $54,943 in Alabama.
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Jobs
Oklahoma has the higher minimum wage
Oklahoma has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Alabama.
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Housing
Alabama homes cost about 1.0x more
Oklahoma has the lower median home value at $171,200, versus $174,600 in Alabama.
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Taxes
Oklahoma has lower state income tax
Oklahoma has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.75%, compared with 5.00% in Alabama.
View detailed comparisonTake-Home Calculator
What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Alabama
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
- —
- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Oklahoma
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.8%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (87.2 for Alabama, 88.4 for Oklahoma). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alabama
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alabama
- Alabama has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alabama health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Alabama education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Alabama has a higher housing cost index.
- Alabama has higher median home values.
- Alabama shows lower median income.
- Alabama has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alabama job growth trend is weaker.
- Alabama health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Oklahoma
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Oklahoma
- Oklahoma has a lower housing cost index.
- Oklahoma has lower median home values.
- Oklahoma shows higher median income.
- Oklahoma has a lower violent crime rate.
- Oklahoma job growth trend is stronger.
- Oklahoma health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Oklahoma has higher property tax rates on average.
- Oklahoma health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Oklahoma education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AL
|
OK
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Montgomery | Oklahoma City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
5,024,279
|
3,959,353
|
|
Median Income
|
$54,943
|
$56,956
|
|
Cost of Living
|
88.6
|
88.6
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$174,600
|
$171,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.38%
|
0.80%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.00%
|
4.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.840/gal
|
$3.272/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.06 c/kWh
|
12.62 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
47.01
|
46.34
|
|
Average Temperature
|
62.8°F
|
59.6°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
99 days
|
139 days
|
|
Land Area
|
52,419 sq mi
|
69,899 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
95.8 per sq mi
|
56.6 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 14, 1819 (#22)
|
November 16, 1907 (#46)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
14
shown
Gas Price
Oklahoma is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.272/gal in Oklahoma vs $3.840/gal in Alabama. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Oklahoma has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.62 c/kWh in Oklahoma vs 16.06 c/kWh in Alabama. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Oklahoma is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.01x in Oklahoma vs 3.18x in Alabama. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Oklahoma is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 19.0% in Oklahoma vs 20.2% in Alabama. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Alabama has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.38% in Alabama vs 0.80% in Oklahoma. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full data
State Color
Alabama votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Rep +30.47 in Alabama vs Rep +34.26 in Oklahoma.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Alabama vs Oklahoma - Common Questions
Q Is Alabama cheaper to live in than Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Oklahoma scores 88.6 versus 88.6 for Alabama - a gap of 0.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alabama or Oklahoma?
$100 goes further in Alabama. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $114.62 in Alabama, compared with $113.65 in Oklahoma.
Q Which state is bigger - Alabama or Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is larger, covering 69,899 sq mi compared with 52,419 sq mi for Alabama - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Alabama or Oklahoma have more people?
Alabama has the larger population at 5,024,279, compared with 3,959,353 in Oklahoma.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alabama or Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has the higher median household income at $56,956, versus $54,943 in Alabama.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alabama or Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.75%, compared with 5.00% in Alabama.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alabama or Oklahoma?
Homes are cheaper in Oklahoma, where the median home value is $171,200, versus $174,600 in Alabama.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alabama or Oklahoma?
Alabama is more densely populated at 95.8 per sq mi people per sq mi. Oklahoma is more spread out at 56.6 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.