How to Move to Oklahoma for Remote Work
By MakeMyMove Staff • Aug 6, 2021
If you’re looking for one of the most affordable places to live in the U.S., Oklahoma is a great option! USA Today ranked Oklahoma as the fourth most affordable state.
In addition to a low cost of living, Oklahoma’s median home price is just $123,000, which is well below the national average of $226,000.
If you’re a foodie, you’ll love Oklahoma's famous Barbeque Brisket. Search for the best BBQ places in this article, 25 Best Places for BBQ in Oklahoma.
Whether you’re there for the BBQ, or the low cost of living, we’re sure you’ll find the best place to call home while you work remotely.
Tulsa, Oklahoma is a great place for entrepreneurs, families, and anyone wanting a big city feel.
Step One: Choose a Place to Live
Looking for the best places to live in Oklahoma for remote workers? Here are some places you can start.
Tulsa: Tulsa is Oklahoma’s second-largest city. It’s a great place for entrepreneurs, families, or anyone wanting a big city, where you’ll enjoy art, museums, sports, and nightlife with a small-town feel. If you’re not a city person, just outside of Tulsa, you’ll be able to find great views at Chandler Park, Turkey Mountain, or the Arkansas River.
Stillwater: Stillwater is Oklahoma’s 10th largest city. It’s home to Oklahoma State University, and as Idealhomes.com says, “was voted among the top 100 places to live in Money Magazine in 2010.” If you’re looking for a great housing situation, it has several Ideal Homes Communities: Boardwalk Estates, Tradan Heights, and The Canyons. Learn more about living in Stillwater and see it’s rankings on niche.com.
Broken Arrow: Broken Arrow is a suburb of Tulsa, OK, and is ideal for those who want to own a home. Many families and young professionals live here, and it has an A- rating for diversity on Niche.com. You’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of activities from museums, Ninja Warrior training facilities, and local food. Learn more about living in Broken Arrow on Livability.com.
Norman: Norman, OK is a suburb of Oklahoma City. Enjoy the arts at Catlett Music Center or Elsie C Brackett Theatre, or enjoy the outdoors at Discovery Cove Nature Park, Sutton Wilderness Trail Park, or the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural history. Norman is also home to the seven-time national football champions, the Oklahoma Sooners. Learn more about Norman on Livability.com
Here are some other great places to live in Oklahoma:
Edmond
Jenks
Bixby
Nichols Hills
If you have a family to consider while making your move, be sure to check out our blog, “Remote Work Relocation Considerations for Families.”
Step Two: Make Your Move
Ready to make your move? Moving to a different state can be a little trickier than just moving to a new city. In addition to standard moving tasks, here’s a short checklist of things you’ll want to think about when moving out of state:
Change your Driver's Licenses and Insurance: Requirements for transferring a driver’s license vary from state to state, so you’ll want to check in with your specific state’s DMV. In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission is in charge of all your motor needs.
Forward Your Mailing Address: Forwarding your mail is essential whether you’re moving out of state or not, but if mail doesn’t get forwarded while you’re out of state, it’s harder to get it back. Forwarding your mailing address is pretty simple on the USPS website.
Update Your Voter Registration: If you’ve permanently moved to a new state, you will need to update your voter registration before certain deadlines so you can vote in upcoming elections. Here’s an article explaining how to update your registration.
If you currently have a remote position, you might also want to check out our Guide to Moving While Working Remotely.
Stillwater, Oklahoma is home to Oklahoma State University
Step Three: Make Your Move
Oklahoma can be a great place to live for remote workers! There are several incentives to work remotely in Oklahoma: receive $11,000 to move to Tulsa, or $7,500 to move to Stillwater.
If you’re interested in a coworking space for your remote work, Regus offers coworking spaces in 6 different locations throughout the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas.
Additional Considerations
Income tax varies greatly between states. SmartAsset.com says, “Oklahoma has a six-bracket progressive income tax system. The state's top income tax rate of 5.00% is in the bottom half of all states. However, this top tax rate applies to taxable income over just $7,200 for individual filers or $12,200 for couples filing jointly and heads of household.”
Looking for Remote Work?
If you’d like to have a job that lets you enjoy all Oklahoma has to offer, you might consider a remote position. At MakeMyMove, we have a blog that lists over 100 companies offering remote work. Check it out here.
About MakeMyMove
Remote work has freed millions of Americans to live where they want, and many are making the move to places that better match their lifestyle. In turn, cities and towns across the country are offering incentives like cash, perks and programming to remote workers who move and work from their communities. At MakeMyMove, you can explore all the places, get personalized help to find the one that’s right for you, connect with locals, and access support to make your move a piece of cake.