California to Oklahoma Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 1,506 mile interstate move from California to Oklahoma? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Oklahoma across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordability), food & health (like Sourdough Bread vs Chicken Fried Steak), real estate & housing (spanish colonial, modern vs traditional, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Sourdough Bread and Tri-tip Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Chicken Fried Steak & Barbecue Brisket
- Oklahoma housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in California
- Rent in Oklahoma is 53.42% more affordable than in California
- Moving from California to Oklahoma will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended California to Oklahoma movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
California to Oklahoma Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from California to Oklahoma
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- High taxes
- Wildfires
- Affordability
- Smoother commutes
- Lower taxes
- Less natural disasters
- Less cultural diversity
- Landlocked
- Fewer attractions
- Fewer tech jobs
- Diverse culture
- Coastal access
- Entertainment options
- Tech opportunities
Pros of moving from California to Oklahoma
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordability
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Oklahoma with smoother commutes
- Swap the high taxes of California for lower taxes in Oklahoma
- Get ready for fewer natural disasters in Oklahoma
Cons of moving from California to Oklahoma
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse culture in California to live with less cultural diversity in Oklahoma
- You'll lose out on the pro of coastal access and have to settle for the con of being landlocked
- Time to bid farewell to entertainment options and get used to fewer attractions in Oklahoma
- Swap tech opportunities for fewer tech jobs
California vs. Oklahoma: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | California | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Sourdough Bread | Chicken Fried Steak |
Most popular meat dish | Tri-tip Barbecue | Barbecue Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Fish Tacos | Fried Onion Burger |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Seitan BBQ Ribs |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from California to Oklahoma, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of California for the equally delicious Chicken Fried Steak of Oklahoma. And while the locals in California rave about their flavorful Tri-tip Barbecue and sumptuous Fish Tacos, Oklahoma residents know they have tasty Barbecue Brisket and Fried Onion Burger to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan BBQ Ribs of Oklahoma. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic California eateries like Chez Panisse, The French Laundry, and Gjusta. After the boxes are unpacked in Oklahoma, don't wait too long before making your way to Oklahoma's acclaimed eateries like Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Elmer's BBQ, and Sid's Diner.
When comparing lifestyles, Oklahoma shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than California. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Oklahoma, compared to what you are used to in California. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Oklahoma.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between California and Oklahoma
Comparison | California | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Spanish Colonial, Modern | Traditional, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, Sustainability | Spacious yards, Proximity to nature |
- The Spanish Colonial and Modern architecture that California is known for will be replaced with the Traditional and Ranch architecture typical of Oklahoma.
- Compared to California's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and sustainability, Oklahoma real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Oklahoma is less walkable than California.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Oklahoma is less bike-friendly than California.
- Oklahoma has less of an urban feel than California.
- Oklahoma housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in California, with a median home price of $203,455 compared to Californiaβs $783,666.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oklahoma have increased by 50% compared to a 42% increase in California.
- Rent in Oklahoma is 53.42% more affordable than in California.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between California and Oklahoma
Comparison | California | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Tornadoes, Hail |
Air Quality | Variable | Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 94Β°F / 72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 45Β°F | 50Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 7 | 10 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from California to Oklahoma. Oklahoma gets 19% fewer sunshine days than California.
- Oklahoma has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to California.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in California, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hail in Oklahoma.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Oklahoma is 9 degrees warmer than in California.
- The average winter lows are 15 degrees colder than they are in California.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Oklahoma. Oklahoma receives 14 more inches of rain compared to California.
Financial & Community Snapshot: California and Oklahoma
Comparison | California | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,551 | $59,673 |
Cost of Living Index | 136.4 | 90.1 |
State Income Tax | 13.3% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.73% | 0.90% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.82% | 8.98% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture | Agriculture, Energy, Aviation |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Severe | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oklahoma tend to earn about 35% less than in California
- The COLI in Oklahoma will be 34% lower than what you are used to living in California
- The state income tax in OK is 5% compared to 13.3% in CA
- The affluence in Oklahoma is moderate compared to high in California
- The poverty level is high in Oklahoma compared to moderate in California
- In terms of homelessness, it is severe in California and moderate in Oklahoma
Political and Religious Climate in California vs. Oklahoma
Comparison | California | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal leaning on most issues | Conservative leaning on most issues |
Religion | Multicultural and diverse religious beliefs | Primarily Christian, with a significant Evangelical presence |
- California tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Oklahoma, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Oklahoma's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Evangelical presence
- California's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as multicultural and diverse religious beliefs
Education Guide When Moving from California to Oklahoma
Comparison | California | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | UCLA UC Berkeley Stanford University | University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University University of Tulsa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary (Beverly Hills) Opal Robinson Elementary (Manhattan Beach) Cupertino Union School District (Cupertino) | Chisholm Elementary (Edmond) Fisher Elementary (Moore) Cleveland Bailey Elementary (Midwest City) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Miller Creek Middle School (San Rafael) Diablo Vista Middle School (Danville) Huntington Middle School (San Marino) | Whittier Middle School (Norman) Central Middle School (Edmond) Sequoyah Middle School (Edmond) |
Top 3 High Schools | Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) Lynbrook High School (San Jose) Whitney High School (Cerritos) | Edmond North High School (Edmond) Norman North High School (Norman) Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa) |
Top 3 private high schools | Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles) The Webb Schools (Claremont) The Thacher School (Ojai) | Cascia Hall Preparatory School (Tulsa) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City) Bishop Kelley High School (Tulsa) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Stanford Online High School (Online) Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (Santa Monica) The College Preparatory School (Oakland) | Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (Oklahoma City) Town & Country School (Tulsa) Dove Science Academy (Oklahoma City) |
Top 3 School Districts | San Marino Unified School District Palo Alto Unified School District Arcadia Unified School District | Edmond Public Schools Norman Public Schools Jenks Public Schools |
How Much Do California to Oklahoma Movers Cost?
Moving 1,506 miles from California to Oklahoma will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,056 | 300 ft3 | $6.85 |
1 Bedroom | $3,062 | 450 ft3 | $6.80 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,066 | 750 ft3 | $6.75 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,375 | 1100 ft3 | $6.70 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,647 | 1600 ft3 | $6.65 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,888 | 1800 ft3 | $6.60 |
Top California to Oklahoma Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best California to Oklahoma movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for California to Oklahoma