What is the cost of living in Cave Creek, AZ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cave Creek has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arizona, Cave Creek has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Arizona's index of 100.
The standard of living in Cave Creek ranks as #74 most affordable out of the 91 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Cave Creek ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.
For more reading on life in Cave Creek, check out:
Cave Creek Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cave Creek. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cave Creek is 101.
The Groceries index in Cave Creek is 102.
The Health index in Cave Creek is 185.
The Housing index in Cave Creek is 104.
The Transportation index in Cave Creek is 112.
The Utilities index in Cave Creek is 109.
| Living Expense | Cave Creek | Arizona | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 100 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 185 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 104 | 100 |
Cave Creek Cost Of Living Compared To Arizona Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Cave Creek Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cave Creek, AZ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arizona, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Cave Creek is $1,054,561.
The Median Rent in Cave Creek is $2,493.
The Median Income in Cave Creek is $107,067.
The Home Value To Income in Cave Creek is 9.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cave Creek is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Cave Creek | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,054,561 | $423,329 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,493 | $1,543 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $107,067 | $79,964 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.8x | 5.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.23x | 0.21x |
Cave Creek, AZ Costs By Category
Detailed Cave Creek Services costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Cave Creek | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.96 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.44 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cave Creek Groceries costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Cave Creek | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.08 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.47 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.66 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.34 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.24 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.44 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cave Creek Health costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Cave Creek | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $102.06 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $93.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cave Creek Transportation costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Cave Creek | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cave Creek Utilities costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Cave Creek | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $147.32 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.63 | $192.25 |
Cave Creek SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cave Creek
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cave Creek. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Phoenix, AZ has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Cave Creek.
Scottsdale, AZ has a cost of living index of 144, 1.1x Cave Creek.
Peoria, AZ has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Cave Creek.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cave Creek |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,642,323 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | 144 | 1.1x |
| Peoria, AZ | 196,906 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 23,789 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Anthem, AZ | 22,584 | 132 | 1.0x |
| New River, AZ | 18,240 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Paradise Valley, AZ | 12,611 | 301 | 2.4x |








