($1,431) Movers From Birmingham, AL to Oklahoma City, OK

What to know before moving from Birmingham to Oklahoma City

Moving from Birmingham to Oklahoma City means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Birmingham than in Oklahoma City, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Birmingham compares to Oklahoma City so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices are the same in Oklahoma City and Birmingham.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Birmingham.
  Home prices in Oklahoma City are 55.5% higher than in Birmingham.
• Income in Oklahoma City is 63.1% higher than in Birmingham, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Oklahoma City include Hobby Lobby, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, and Accord Human Resources.
• The cost of living for a single person in Oklahoma City is 20.3% lower than in Birmingham. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Oklahoma City is 3.1% lower than in Birmingham.
• The unemployment rate in Oklahoma City is 21.43% lower than in Birmingham.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Oklahoma City, since the city’s sales taxes in Oklahoma City are 13.70% lower than in Birmingham.
• One perk of moving to Oklahoma City is paying less in state income taxes, which are 5.00% lower than in Birmingham.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,391.55 in Oklahoma City to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Birmingham.

How life is different in Birmingham vs. Oklahoma City

• The population of Oklahoma City is about 246% greater than Birmingham, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Oklahoma City offers better access to buses and trains than Birmingham, based on public transportation ratings. Oklahoma City has a transit score of 3 out of 10 compared to 0 in Birmingham. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Oklahoma City means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Birmingham. Oklahoma City is considered more walkable than Birmingham, with a score of 73 out of 100 versus 33 out of 100 in Birmingham. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Oklahoma City is considered more bike-friendly than Birmingham in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Oklahoma City has a bike-friendliness score of 74 out of 100, while Birmingham is rated as 31 out of 100.
• Oklahoma City has a lower crime rate than Birmingham based on scores of 49.37 and Birmingham's 61.64, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Oklahoma City than in Birmingham, based on Oklahoma City’s safety index of 50.63 versus 38.36 for Birmingham. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Oklahoma City and Birmingham is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Birmingham vs. Oklahoma City move

• Weather: Oklahoma City has very hot, humid summers, and cool winters with occasional snowfall. Prolonged and severe droughts (sometimes leading to wildfires in the vicinity), as well as very heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding and flooding, occur with some regularity. Oklahoma City is also located in tornado alley. Be sure to check your weather app to avoid inclement weather during your move.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: In Oklahoma, in-state household goods movers are certified and licensed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC). Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Oklahoma moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Oklahoma does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Oklahoma City. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Opting for Released Value Protection is the most cost-effective choice since it comes at no extra expense. Movers provide this option without additional charges, but the coverage it offers is minimal. With Released Value Protection, the mover's liability is limited to 60 cents per pound per article. For example, if your mover were to lose or damage a set of fine china weighing 15 pounds, you would only be compensated $9 (60 cents x 15 pounds). If you require coverage for the full value of your items, it is advisable to discuss alternative options with the moving company or explore third-party insurance providers.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Oklahoma City

Now that you've decided to make the move to "OKC", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Oklahoma City.

Helpful moving resources