A+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
15%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Ponca City Oklahoma National
Cost of living8286100
Goods & Services8591100
Groceries9494100
Health care8493100
Housing6169100
Transportation9693100
Utilities10098100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Ponca City, OK

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Ponca City? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Ponca City stands at 82, making it 18% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Everyday essentials such as clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment all contribute to your overall cost of living. The good news is that in Ponca City, these goods and services come in at 15.1% less than the national average. This means you can enjoy the things you need and love without breaking the bank. With such savings, you have the opportunity to allocate more funds towards your savings or other financial goals, ultimately enhancing your financial well-being.

Is Ponca City Affordable?

Is Ponca City an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Ponca City, the median home price is 44.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 26% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Ponca City come in at $44,281, which is 20% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Ponca City?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Ponca City, the utilities index is 0.1% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Ponca City, the groceries index is 5.9% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Ponca City, the healthcare costs are 16.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Ponca City displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Ponca City is 5% lower than the Oklahoma average
  • The cost of living in Ponca City is 18% lower than the national average
  • Ponca City housing is 39% lower than the national average
  • Oklahoma general sales tax is 12% lower than the national average
  • Oklahoma state income tax is 90% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Ponca City

See all the best places to live around Ponca City

Compare Ponca City, OK Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,996$4,916$1,376$1,770
      Renters$31,750$2,646$741$953
      The affordability of the housing market in Ponca City, OK as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Ponca City homeowners, the median income is $58,996. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,376 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $31,750. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $741 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Oklahoma Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Oklahoma 4.5% 11%

      Oklahoma Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Oklahoma 0.25% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Ponca City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $17.33$24.2628.6%
      Beauty Salon $49.53$45.568.7%
      Toothpaste $3.63$3.702.0%
      Shampoo $1.19$1.287.3%
      Movie $9.39$12.1322.6%
      Bowling $12.00$18.0033.3%

      Groceries

      Item Ponca City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.07$5.8413.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.53$4.673.0%
      Potatoes $4.99$4.931.2%
      Pizza $11.32$12.096.3%
      Beer $9.83$10.415.6%

      Health Care

      Item Ponca City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $119.00$125.685.3%
      Doctor $137.83$135.781.5%
      Dentist $127.37$113.2912.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.25$10.653.8%
      Lipitor $492.10$468.605.0%

      Housing

      Item Ponca City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $102,600.00$184,700.0044.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,710.43$2,346.6927.1%
      Apartment Rent $702.00$949.0026.0%

      Transportation

      Item Ponca City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.25$3.466.0%
      Tire Balancing $64.70$59.928.0%

      Utilities

      Item Ponca City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $181.99$193.996.2%
      Phone $193.46$192.250.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Braman, OK1717327.3%
      Marland, OK3057327.2%
      Kildare, OK737723.1%
      Tonkawa, OK3,0007723.0%
      Blackwell, OK6,6347822.1%
      Ponca City, OK23,9408218.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Port St. John, FL23,9401000.1%
      Kalispell, MT23,9351088.5%
      Freeport, IL23,9308020.4%
      South Plainfield, NJ23,96113131.4%
      Saint-Lin--Laurentides, QC23,910n/a 
      Ponca City, OK23,9408218.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.