Pennsylvania Local Expert
Alyssa Kruse
“I’m a PA lifer who has moved so often I’ve learned to never give away boxes after a move. After…”
Read more about me
JourneysMoving Journeys|From PAMoving from Pennsylvania|To OKMoving to Oklahoma|Pennsylvania → Oklahoma
Pennsylvania to Oklahoma Move: The Cultural Shift That Catches People Off Guard
Swapping the rolling green hills of Pennsylvania for the wide open plains of Oklahoma is a bigger lifestyle shift than most people anticipate. Pennsylvania offers dense East Coast history, four dramatic seasons, and a cost of living that varies wildly between Philadelphia and rural farm country. Oklahoma trades all of that for big skies, tornado season, and a pace of life that feels genuinely unhurried in ways that can catch newcomers off guard. The cultural roots run deep in both states, but they run in very different directions. Our Snappy Scout team (Alyssa & Shana) dug into the real costs, logistical challenges, and day to day lifestyle changes you should prepare for before you start loading the moving truck.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
PA to Oklahoma: Miles, Route, and What to Expect
Average distance
1,350miles
Typical route
I-76 W, I-70 W, I-44 W
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Philadelphia, PA → Oklahoma City, OK
~1450 miles
Pittsburgh, PA → Oklahoma City, OK
~1250 miles
Allentown, PA → Tulsa, OK
~1450 miles
Pittsburgh, PA → Tulsa, OK
~1200 miles
Harrisburg, PA → Oklahoma City, OK
~1350 miles
How Much Is Relocating from PA to Oklahoma Going to Run You?
Moving 1,350 miles from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
4–11days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,270.00
1 Bedroom
$1,870.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,080.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,460.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,410.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,120.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,270.00 | 300 | $4.23 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,870.00 | 450 | $4.16 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,080.00 | 750 | $4.11 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,460.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,410.00 | 1,600 | $4.01 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,120.00 | 1,800 | $3.96 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Is Relocating from PA to Oklahoma the Right Decision for You?
Well, it depends. If you're a Homesteader, Retired Snowbird, or Binge Shopper, you'll thrive in your move to Oklahoma. But if you're more of a Foodie, Craft Beer Fan, or Hipster, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from PA to OK
Homesteading
Pennsylvania
6
/10
Oklahoma
9
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Acreage cheap, maple runs, farmers fairs like Bloomsburg
Oklahoma
Gaining
Acreage, chicken coops, OSU Extension knows every seed
Recommended OK cities/areas for Homesteaders
StillwaterGuthrieMcAlester
Pennsylvania
6
/10
Oklahoma
9
/10
Snowbirds
Pennsylvania
3.5
/10
Oklahoma
5.5
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Dutch Country charm, Hersheypark grandkids bait, but winters bite hard
Oklahoma
Gaining
Mildish winters, Medicine Park charm, not exactly Scottsdale sun
Recommended OK cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
LawtonDuncanArdmore
Pennsylvania
3.5
/10
Oklahoma
5.5
/10
Shopping
Pennsylvania
4.5
/10
Oklahoma
6
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
KOP Mall slays, Walnut Street dazzles, but no Fifth Avenue
Oklahoma
Gaining
Penn Square splurges, Utica Square strolls, Quail Springs weekends
Recommended OK cities/areas for Binge Shoppers
Oklahoma CityTulsa
Pennsylvania
4.5
/10
Oklahoma
6
/10
Foodies
Pennsylvania
9.5
/10
Oklahoma
8
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Michelin stars, Reading Terminal, The Strip District, farm-to-table, comfort food, small town hidden gems
Oklahoma
Gaining
Nonesuch tasting menus, Mother Road Market grazing, Cattlemen's steaks
Recommended OK cities/areas for Foodies
Oklahoma CityTulsa
Pennsylvania
9.5
/10
Oklahoma
8
/10
Craft Beer Culture
Pennsylvania
9.5
/10
Oklahoma
8.5
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Troegs, Dancing Gnome, Grist House, Hitchhiker Brewing, Yuenglings, Weyerbacher, Spring House Brewing, Yards Brewing, Human Robot, Wissahickon Brewing Company
Oklahoma
Gaining
Prairie Artisan pours, American Solera sours, COOP taproom chatter
Recommended OK cities/areas for Craft Beer Fans
TulsaOklahoma CityNorman
Pennsylvania
9.5
/10
Oklahoma
8.5
/10
Hipsters
Pennsylvania
8.5
/10
Oklahoma
7.5
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
La Colombe, Johnny Brenda's, Mr. Smalls shows set tone
Oklahoma
Gaining
Cain's Ballroom concerts, Plaza Walls murals, First Friday Art Crawl
Recommended OK cities/areas for Hipsters
Tulsa Arts DistrictPlaza DistrictPaseo
Pennsylvania
8.5
/10
Oklahoma
7.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Oklahoma?
Being able to see farmland, animals, and open sky from just about anywhere.
– Shana Grandstaff
Oklahoma Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Pennsylvania and living in Oklahoma
PennsylvaniaOklahoma
The Local Food Culture Between PA and Oklahoma
Eating Like a Local in Pennsylvania
To order a cheesesteak:
1. Pick your cheese: Whiz, prov, or American (Cooper Sharp is the best)
2. "Wit" or "Witout": do you want fried onions or not (you do!)
3. Move it. You're probably double-parked!
Alyssa KrusePennsylvania Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Oklahoma
Our state dish was selected because it is the truth. We eat chicken fried steak, usually served with mashed potatoes and fried okra, and covered in cream gravy.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local ExpertIs Oklahoma a Worse State for Your Tax Picture?
Pennsylvania
Oklahoma
PennsylvaniavsOklahoma
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 3.07% statewide, plus local EIT, Philly wage tax notable
Progressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
Pennsylvania
Flat 3.07% statewide, plus local EIT, Philly wage tax notable
VS
Oklahoma
Progressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigh in Philly suburbs (Montco, Bucks), moderate Pittsburgh region, lower rural counties
Low statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
Pennsylvania
High in Philly suburbs (Montco, Bucks), moderate Pittsburgh region, lower rural counties
VS
Oklahoma
Low statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
Moving to Oklahoma from PA: The People, Politics, & Religion Difference
Pennsylvania
Oklahoma
PennsylvaniavsOklahoma
People
PeopleGritty, neighborly, sports obsessed, Philly Pittsburgh rivalry, small town polite, big city direct
Plainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
Pennsylvania
Gritty, neighborly, sports obsessed, Philly Pittsburgh rivalry, small town polite, big city direct
VS
Oklahoma
Plainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
Politics
Classic swing state: Philly and Pittsburgh blue, central and northern counties red, suburbs purple
Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
Pennsylvania
Classic swing state: Philly and Pittsburgh blue, central and northern counties red, suburbs purple
VS
Oklahoma
Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, large Catholic share, notable Jewish communities, growing Muslim and Hindu, rising unaffiliated
Mostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
Pennsylvania
Mostly Christian, large Catholic share, notable Jewish communities, growing Muslim and Hindu, rising unaffiliated
VS
Oklahoma
Mostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
What Changes About the Weather When You Move from PA to Oklahoma
SUMMER
Pennsylvania
Philly subway sauna vibes (sticky 90s with humidity that makes it feel like 100°). The mountain evenings are merciful in the Poconos.
Oklahoma
windy oven, extra crispy (triple digits happen all over the state)
WINTER
Pennsylvania
choose your own chill. Lake Erie flurries can go blizzard mode, Philly gets slush usually right after you shovel, and the Poconos snow pack gets real cold.
Oklahoma
frigid sneak attacks (OKC shivers, Panhandle blizzards, Tulsa mostly slush)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Oklahoma
Spring: Seeing tulips, daffodils, and irises emerge as everything becomes green again
Summer: Warm nights looking at the stars while listening to music and drinking iced tea
Fall: Looking at the changing leaves on Turkey Mountain, football gameday energy everywhere you go
Winter: Christmas lights everywhere, especially in small towns on Main Street
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Oklahoma
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Pennsylvania, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Oklahoma. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Oklahoma local experts.
