In the past year, Oklahoma City has grown significantly, moving up six spaces and breaking into the top 25 largest cities in the country. With a low cost of living, low cost of doing business, and plenty of room to grow, more than 600,000 people call the city home. So, are you considering joining life in OKC? Then here are six things to know before moving to Oklahoma City.
1. Enjoy the low cost of life in OKC
Let’s start with what should be one of the biggest factors of moving: the cost of life. According to BestPlaces.net, which offers a cost of living index, Oklahoma offers a significantly affordable way of life with an index of score of 85.4. For comparison, the national average is 100. While you’ll see cheaper prices across almost all areas of life, the biggest one is houring, which is nearly half of what the national average is. For example, the median home cost is $130,000—more than $100,000 cheaper than the national average.
2. Start a business in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is a great place to not only find a job, but start a job, especially for tech companies and startups. Zillow ranked OKC as No. 1 out of 42 large metros due to its affordability, market hotness, and more, earning the city the nickname of Silicon Prairie. Furthermore, OKC is also great for young entrepreneurs, ranking among Lending Tree’s best places with youngest entrepreneurs.
3. Get a fresh start in Oklahoma City’s art scene
Sometimes, moving has little to do with economic drivers and more to do with wanting a fresh start. With that in mind, OKC was among Livability’s best places to restart. Interestingly enough, the city earned its ranking due to its artistic community.
The art scene is notably big in Oklahoma City, and locals love galleries and museums such as Factory Obscura, an immersive experience of an art collective, as well as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
4. The OKC Districts
As with most big cities with neighborhoods and communities, Oklahoma City’s districts offer a unique flavor and facet of the overall city for you to explore and enjoy. For example, the Western Avenue district offers an eclectic mix of local shops and restaurants—as well as some of those art galleries we mentioned earlier—while the Boathouse and Adventure districts offer great spot for family fun and outdoor recreation.
You can explore these areas for yourself in the OKC interactive district guide.
5. Where to eat in OKC
As with any new city, you’re gonna want to know where to eat. In fact, you may need it. Locals love places such as The Loaded Bowl just west of Riverside for some comfort food or to spice things up at Cajun Corner in Uptown. For the top ten places that locals recommend, click here.
6. Lastly, you may want a car in Oklahoma City
This part may be different if you’re moving from a larger city, especially from the coast, but owning your own car is a benefit you may not want to overlook. True, there is the Embark OKC and its public bus stations, but you can get around quite easily on your own. And as you’re saving money elsewhere, owning a car is a real possibility. Plus, the commute isn’t that bad—OKC is among WalletHub’s best cities for driving.
If you’re among the thousands looking to make OKC you’re home, there is one last thing you should know: Storage.com is here to help. Whether to be a place to keep all your belongings while you relocate, maximize your apartment space, or even help out with that business startup, click here to see how Oklahoma City self storage can help.
