McAlester, OK vs Purcell, OK

McAlester, OK and Purcell, OK have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.4% difference in their overall index. McAlester scores 70 while Purcell 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 McAlester is $906/month compared to $871/month in Purcell — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Purcell has cheaper rent, McAlester actually has lower median home values ($137,500 vs $163,000).

Median household income in McAlester is $48,044 compared to $60,529 in Purcell (-20.6%). While Purcell is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of McAlester spend roughly 22.6% of their income on rent, more than the 17.3% in Purcell.