When Oklahomans talk about our state’s economy, “affordability” has historically been one of our biggest selling points. We compare ourselves to our neighbors in Texas, Colorado, and Kansas, boasting that a dollar goes further here.
But according to our latest report, that boast only holds true if you are already middle-class. For the thousands of Oklahomans earning the current minimum wage, Oklahoma is actually one of the least affordable states in the region and prices are rising every year.
The Regional Affordability Gap
To see how we stack up, researchers looked at the “Household Survival Budget,” which is the bare minimum needed to afford housing, food, and utilities. They then calculated how many hours a minimum-wage worker would need to work in each state to cover those basics.
The results are a wake-up call for the Sooner State. Under our current $7.25 wage:
- Oklahoma is the second least affordable state in the region for a minimum-wage earner.
- Only Texas (whose minimum wage also sits at $7.25) is less affordable.
- In our other neighboring states of Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, and Colorado, a minimum-wage worker has to work significantly fewer hours than an Oklahoman to survive.
The $15 Transformation
The report simulates what would happen to our regional standing if Oklahoma raises its wage to $15. The shift is dramatic. By raising the wage, Oklahoma would go from the bottom of the pack to the most affordable state in the entire region for a working person.
The study shows that at $15 an hour, Oklahoma becomes the only state in the area where a worker can afford all essential goods without working beyond a standard full-time schedule. In contrast, even in states like Colorado or New Mexico (which have higher wages than Oklahoma currently does), workers still face higher monthly survival costs that often require more than 40 hours of work per week.
Why Regional Standing Matters
But why should we care how we compare to Kansas or Arkansas? It comes down to workforce stability and growth. Those two factors can make our break our future as a competitor among other cities in the nation.
Regional standing plays a huge role in the following factors:
- Retaining Workers: When neighboring states offer higher purchasing power, Oklahoma risks losing its labor force to states where the “math of survival” is easier.
- Economic Productivity: The report notes that when wages are suppressed, consumer demand is missing from the economy. Low-wage workers spend nearly every dollar they earn on immediate needs. By becoming the most affordable state in the region, Oklahoma would see that money reinvested directly into local grocery stores, housing, and services.
- Ending the “Working Poor” Cycle: Currently, 45% of Oklahoma households earn less than the cost of basic essentials. Moving to a $15 wage would allow these workers to contribute to the economy rather than just struggling to survive within it.
The Bottom Line
For decades, Oklahoma has relied on its low cost of living to attract people and businesses. But as prices have risen 33% since 2008 while the minimum wage has stayed flat, that advantage has disappeared for our lowest-paid workers.
Raising the wage to $15 doesn’t just help families. It would restore Oklahoma’s reputation as a regional leader in affordability. It’s time to make this advantage a reality for every worker in the state.
See the Comparison:
View the regional affordability charts (Figure 20) in the full report: “Poverty and Cost of Living in Oklahoma: Minimum Wage Impacts” by Scioto Analysis.
