Virginia Local Expert
Laura Gray
“I arrived in Virginia in 1988 with a teaching job, a love of sunshine, and zero idea I’d still be…”
Read more about me
Moving from Virginia to OK: Was It Worth It?
Trading the rolling hills of Virginia for the wide open plains of Oklahoma is a bigger lifestyle shift than most people anticipate. Virginia blends coastal lowlands, Blue Ridge Mountain scenery, and a dense corridor of government and tech jobs near Washington D.C., while Oklahoma offers wide skies, a lower cost of living, and a slower, more rooted pace of life. The cultural and financial differences between these two states run deeper than geography alone. Our Snappy Scout team (Laura & Shana) dug into the costs, logistics, and day to day lifestyle changes you should expect before you start loading the truck.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
How Many Miles from VA to Oklahoma?
Average distance
1,300miles
Typical route
I-81 S, I-40 W, and I-44 W
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Virginia Beach, VA → Oklahoma City, OK
~1450 miles
Richmond, VA → Tulsa, OK
~1300 miles
Norfolk, VA → Oklahoma City, OK
~1450 miles
Roanoke, VA → Tulsa, OK
~1150 miles
Charlottesville, VA → Oklahoma City, OK
~1300 miles
How Much Will Relocating from VA to Oklahoma Cost?
Moving 1,300 miles from Virginia 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.
What Type of Person Struggles After Moving from VA to Oklahoma?
Well, it depends. If you're a Homesteader, Retired Snowbird, or PTA President, you'll thrive in your move to Oklahoma. But if you're more of a Coffee Snob, Beach Bum, or Wall Street Exec, 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 Virginia to Oklahoma.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from VA to OK
Homesteading
Virginia
6.5
/10
Oklahoma
9
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Acreage, farmers co ops, and Shenandoah canning season.
Oklahoma
Gaining
Acreage, chicken coops, OSU Extension knows every seed
Recommended OK cities/areas for Homesteaders
StillwaterGuthrieMcAlester
Virginia
6.5
/10
Oklahoma
9
/10
Snowbirds
Virginia
3.5
/10
Oklahoma
5.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Lovely First Landing walks, but winter chills send friends to St. Pete.
Oklahoma
Gaining
Mildish winters, Medicine Park charm, not exactly Scottsdale sun
Recommended OK cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
LawtonDuncanArdmore
Virginia
3.5
/10
Oklahoma
5.5
/10
PTA Life
Virginia
6.5
/10
Oklahoma
8
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Top schools, stadium fundraisers, and Vienna Halloween Parade.
Oklahoma
Gaining
Friday night lights, BOK Center championships, Edmond Santa Fe fundraisers
Recommended OK cities/areas for PTA Presidents
BixbyEdmondYukon
Virginia
6.5
/10
Oklahoma
8
/10
Coffee Culture
Virginia
8
/10
Oklahoma
6.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Lamplighter roasts, Northside Social, Cafe Stella mornings.
Oklahoma
Gaining
Elemental espresso shots, Topeca roasts, Hoboken pour overs
Recommended OK cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
Oklahoma CityTulsaGuthrie
Virginia
8
/10
Oklahoma
6.5
/10
Beach Culture
Virginia
4
/10
Oklahoma
3
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Boardwalk energy, but mellow surf, occasional jellyfish parades.
Oklahoma
Gaining
Grand Lake coves, Blue Whale selfies, still no surf
Recommended OK cities/areas for Beach Bums
Grand LakeMedicine ParkLake Eufaula
Virginia
4
/10
Oklahoma
3
/10
Wall Street Life
Virginia
4
/10
Oklahoma
3
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Big deals adjacent, but not Manhattan. Expect federal contractors.
Oklahoma
Gaining
Devon Tower views, energy deals, not Park Avenue speed
Recommended OK cities/areas for Wall Street Execs
Oklahoma City
Virginia
4
/10
Oklahoma
3
/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 Virginia and living in Oklahoma
VirginiaOklahoma
The Dining Scene: VA vs Oklahoma
Eating Like a Local in Virginia
What do locals actually order in the Hampton Roads area: White dip with their Mexican chips, She Crab Soup, and an Orange Crush, a one-of-a-kind kind of drink.
Laura GrayVirginia 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 ExpertVA vs Oklahoma: How Your Taxes Line Up
Virginia
Oklahoma
VirginiavsOklahoma
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
Progressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
Virginia
Progressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
VS
Oklahoma
Progressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
Low statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
Virginia
Higher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
VS
Oklahoma
Low statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
What Hits Different About Values, Beliefs, & Politics When You Move from VA to Oklahoma
Virginia
Oklahoma
VirginiavsOklahoma
People
PeoplePolite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
Plainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
Virginia
Polite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
VS
Oklahoma
Plainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
Politics
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
Virginia
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
VS
Oklahoma
Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
Mostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
Virginia
Mostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
VS
Oklahoma
Mostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
The Weather Shift Between VA and Oklahoma
SUMMER
Virginia
sweet tea sauna (Chesapeake breathes on you, Roanoke bakes by noon)
Oklahoma
windy oven, extra crispy (triple digits happen all over the state)
WINTER
Virginia
coat roulette (Blue Ridge bites, Hampton Roads shrugs and rains)
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 Virginia, 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.
