Norman, OK vs. Midwest City, OK: Cost of Living Comparison (2025)
Deciding between Norman and Midwest City, Oklahoma in 2025? This cost of living comparison breaks down the key differences in housing costs, utilities, groceries, and overall expenses to help you choose the most affordable place to call home.
1. Housing Costs
Housing is often the biggest factor in cost of living. Here’s how typical rent and home prices compare in Norman vs Midwest City:
| Housing Type | Norman | Midwest City |
|---|---|---|
| Median 2BR Apartment Rent | $950 | $800 |
| Median 3BR Home Price | $250,000 | $200,000 |
🏆 Winner: Midwest City has a slight edge on housing affordability, with lower rent and home prices than Norman.
2. Utilities and Energy Costs
Utility bills can add up. In Norman and Midwest City, expect to pay around $150-200/month for electricity, gas, water, and trash service for a 2BR apartment. Costs may be higher in summer when air conditioning is a must.
🏆 Winner: It’s a tie. Utility costs are comparable between Norman and Midwest City.
3. Groceries and Daily Expenses
Both cities have affordable grocery and restaurant prices:
- Gallon of milk: $3.50
- Loaf of bread: $2.25
- Fast food meal: $8-10
- Restaurant dinner for two: $40-60
🏆 Winner: Another tie. Grocery and dining out costs are similar in Norman and Midwest City.
4. Taxes and Fees
Oklahoma has a 4.5% state sales tax, but cities add their own sales taxes on top of that:
- Norman sales tax: 8.75% (4.25% city tax)
- Midwest City sales tax: 8.65% (4.15% city tax)
Property taxes are 0.86% in Norman and 1.01% in Midwest City. For a $200K home, that’s $1,720/year in Norman and $2,020/year in Midwest City.
🏆 Winner: Norman has a slight edge with lower property taxes, though Midwest City’s sales tax is a touch lower.
5. Cost Summary
| Monthly Expense | Norman | Midwest City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (2BR Rent) | $950 | $800 |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 |
| Transportation | $60 | $60 |
| Taxes (Property Tax) | $143 | $168 |
| Misc Expenses | $200 | $200 |
| Estimated Monthly Total | $1,928 | $1,803 |
6. Lifestyle Fit
Cost is just one factor in choosing where to live. Consider other tradeoffs:
- Norman has a vibrant downtown and college town feel as home to the University of Oklahoma.
- Midwest City offers a quieter suburban lifestyle and easy access to Tinker Air Force Base jobs.
Norman averages 5°F cooler summer temperatures than Midwest City. But both cities get hot!
7. FAQs
Is Norman more affordable than Midwest City?
Midwest City has a slight cost advantage overall, mainly due to lower housing costs. But the difference is small.
Which city has lower rent?
Midwest City is around 15% cheaper than Norman for a typical 2BR apartment.
Where is it cheaper to buy a home?
Midwest City’s median home price is about 20% less than Norman’s, though property taxes are a bit higher.
8. Conclusion
While Midwest City comes out a little ahead on overall cost of living, the difference vs Norman isn’t huge. Your budget can work in either city, so consider other lifestyle factors like vibe, commute, schools and amenities.
For more insights, check out these Monthly Budget Examples for Norman Residents or our full Cost of Living in Norman (2025 Guide).