The cheapest big cities to rent in America - and number one is a 'complete bargain'

Oklahoma City is the cheapest big city in the country to rent in, a new poll has found.

The average rent for an apartment is $839 per month, which is 46 percent below the national average, data compiled by the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index showed.

In terms of rent affordability, Oklahoma City, boasting a population of 1,396,445, came just ahead of Birmingham, Alabama, and nearby Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The list - which was compiled by Kiplinger from metro areas in the U.S. with a population of more than 1 million residents - showcases a lot of affordable cities in the South and the West.

Oklahoma City has some of the cheapest apartment among large metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Typical rents in Oklahoma City average at $839 per month, 46 percent below the national average

Earlier this year, it was revealed how it is now cheaper to rent than it is to buy a property in all 50 of America's biggest metropolitan areas, according to Realtor.com's rental report. 

While it was already more affordable to rent than buy in the vast majority of metro areas in 2023, elevated mortgage rates and soaring house prices have now flipped the remaining markets. 

In Oklahoma City, while the cost of living is similar to that found in any other small town, Oklahoma City has a variety of big-city amenities, including its own philharmonic orchestra, the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum and the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.

Several leading oil and gas companies have also made Oklahoma City their home with oil-producers major employers in the region. 

There's plenty of cultural activities in Oklahoma City including the Festival of the Arts held each April, above

You can even go whitewater river rafting on the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City

Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and Continental Resources are all based in the town.

There are currently 12 cities across the state of Oklahoma that are among the  cheapest small towns in America, but to get to the runner-up in terms of most affordable options for rent, you'd have to head further down south.

Birmingham, Alabama, with a population a little more than 1.1 million, came in second on the list with the average apartment rent of $1,032 - a 33 percent discount compared to the national average.

Aside from the 'cheap' rents, groceries, transportation and healthcare all run less compared to the national average, reports Kiplinger.

For those looking to buy, housing costs in Birmingham are also affordable, running 20 percent below the national level.

Culturally, Birmingham serves as Alabama's capita and features several museums and galleries, together with the Alabama Ballet and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, enriching the local arts scene.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, with its population of just over 1 million and an average apartment rent of $1,059, came third on the list - some 31.5 percent below the national average.

Once a cattle town and latterly known as the 'Oil Capital of the World,' Tulsa is perfect for outdoor lovers who can enjoy the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area just a short drive from downtown. 

The 300-acre area is full of woods and ponds, with trails for hiking and biking. 

Birmingham , Alabama , with a population of just over 1.1 million came second on the list with the average apartment renting for $1,032 - a 33 percent discount to the national average

Tulsa, often billed as the 'world's largest small town', used to conjure up images of the 'Old West' and there are museums in town that pay homage to such history. 

The Gilcrease Museum has various exhibits on the American West, while the Philbrook Museum of Art, housed in a mansion funded by the oil boom, has been dubbed 'the most beautiful place in Oklahoma.'

Tulsa is even offering people to move to the town and will pay people to live there with grants of $10,000 under the 'Tulsa Remote' scheme.

Since the program's start in 2018, some 2,900 people have been accepted - generating more than $300 million for the city's rapidly growing job market.  

The burgeoning program has also generated an estimated sales tax revenue of $2.5 million for Tulsa County and $3.1 million for the Sooner State - a place where Route 66 Americana meets southcentral metropolises. 

Tulsa, Oklahoma is often billed as the 'world's largest small town'. Average rents here are

The Philbrook Museum of Art, housed in a mansion funded by the oil boom, has been dubbed 'the most beautiful place in Oklahoma'

Other cities in the top ten are all similarly priced with St. Louis, Missouri, placing fourth with an average apartment rent of $1,061. Buffalo, New York, is slightly more expensive at $1,119 and came in fifth.

At just over $100 more a month, Columbus, Ohio, came in sixth while neighboring Cincinnati, Ohio, is seventh with an average rent of $1,381.

Houston, Texas, is eighth with average rents of $1,368.

Ninth is Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, with average rents of $1,398 while rounding out the top ten is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at $1,426.