Rents are 3% below what Oklahoma City's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,285 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Oklahoma City usually run 0.7% below trend in February and 0.8% above it in August, about $19 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Oklahoma City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Oklahoma City changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 31 Oklahoma cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent in Oklahoma City is 37.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 17 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($68,656) is $1,716 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,666); a 4-bedroom is $1,817.
The priciest of 27 ZIP codes in Oklahoma City, 73116 ($1,761/mo), costs 1.8 times the cheapest, 73139 ($967/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oklahoma City. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Oklahoma City, OK is majority owner-occupied, 34.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Oklahoma City, OK has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Oklahoma City, OK stood at $999 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,285, reflecting a 28.6% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $59,679 to $68,656 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.0% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.6% since 2021, moving from about 673,183 residents to roughly 697,125. College-educated residents now make up 34.7% of adults here, versus 32.3% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Oklahoma City, OK reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Oklahoma City on your salary?
At $1,285/mo, how Oklahoma City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Oklahoma City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Oklahoma City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Oklahoma City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Oklahoma City is $1,285/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $937/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,247/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,015/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,666/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($68,656/yr), Oklahoma City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Oklahoma City rent compare to other cities in Oklahoma?
At $1,285/mo, rent takes ~22% of Oklahoma City's median household income ($68,656/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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