By Brandice J. Armstrong
The Journal Record


OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma cities ranked below the national average in a nationwide cost-of-living survey for the fourth quarter of 2005.
Virginia's ACCRA, the Council for Community and Economic Research, has performed the survey for about 35 years. Roughly 300 metros across the country participated in the widely known survey.
McAlester ranked the most affordable city in the United States with an index rating that is 21.2 points below the national average. Bartlesville ranked the most expensive city in Oklahoma with a rating that is seven points below the national average. Oklahoma City, Edmond and Norman ranked in the middle of the nine rated Oklahoma micro and metro areas.
McAlester has been ranked as the most affordable urban area since first participating in the ACCRA survey in the second quarter of 2004, said Kitty Corder, assistant director at McAlester Economic Development Service.
"I think it says that if you want to make a profit and have a high quality of life, come to McAlester," said Jim Mills, executive director at McAlester Economic Development Service. "We're trying to add jobs and (expand) industry and cost is a main consideration when you're looking for a site location."
Janet Yowell, executive director for the Edmond Economic Development Authority, agreed.
"This data has proved to be a valuable tool in our business recruitment efforts," Yowell said.
Edmond has participated in the survey since the fourth quarter of 2002.
The cost-of-living index compares prices of consumer goods and services including housing, utilities, groceries, transportation and health care in participating cities. Most cities have a population of at least 50,000. Smaller cities that have populations of less than 50,000 were a part of the survey before the population requirement went into effect.
"The average for all participating places in each quarter equals 100 and each participant's index is read as a percentage of the average for all participating places," said Erol Yildirim, project manager for The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, a sister agency to ACCRA.
Oklahoma as a whole favored best in the housing category, 23.8 points below the national average.
The three most expensive cities in the United States in which to live are New York City, ranking 104.3 points above the national average; San Francisco, which is 71.4 points above the national average; and Honolulu, which is 63.2 points above the national average.
Brandice J. Armstrong reports on real estate, technology, manufacturing, entertainment, tourism and media. You may reach her by phone at (405) 278-2846 or by e-mail at brandice. armstrong@journalrecord.com.