Elk City, OK vs Shawnee, OK

Elk City, OK and Shawnee, OK have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.6% difference in their overall index. Elk City scores 71 while Shawnee scores 72 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Elk City is $850/month compared to $912/month in Shawnee — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elk City has cheaper rent, Shawnee actually has lower median home values ($147,800 vs $165,300).

Median household income in Elk City is $49,500 compared to $54,281 in Shawnee (-8.8%). While Shawnee is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elk City spend roughly 20.6% of their income on rent, more than the 20.2% in Shawnee.