Payson, AZ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Payson, AZ Summary

Cost of living in Payson research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Payson is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Arizona, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Payson is 116, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Payson is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Payson ranks as the #60 cheapest in Arizona out of 92.

  • Payson ranks as the #4,151 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Payson is $448,382.

  • The median income in Payson is $65,175.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
116
Payson's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Payson, AZ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Payson has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arizona, Payson has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Arizona's index of 99.

The standard of living in Payson ranks as #60 most affordable out of the 92 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Payson ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.

For more reading on life in Payson, check out:

60 out of 92
In Arizona
4,151 out of 6,489
In America

Payson Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Payson. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Payson is 116.

  • The Groceries index in Payson is 104.

  • The Health index in Payson is 100.

  • The Housing index in Payson is 129.

  • The Transportation index in Payson is 123.

  • The Utilities index in Payson is 97.

Living Expense Payson Arizona National Average
Overall 116 99 100
Services 116 104 100
Groceries 104 104 100
Health 100 92 100
Housing 129 97 100
Transportation 123 104 100
Utilities 97 93 100
For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:
Payson Cost of Living Vs. AZ

Payson, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Payson is $448,382.

  • The Median Rent in Payson is $1,355.

  • The Median Income in Payson is $65,175.

  • The Home Value To Income in Payson is 6.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Payson is 0.25x.

Statistic Payson Arizona United States
Median Home Value $448,382 $422,479 $303,400
Median Rent $1,355 $1,431 $1,348
Median Income $65,175 $76,872 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.9x 5.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.22x 0.21x
$448,382
Median Home Value
$1,355
Median Rent
$65,175
Median Income

Payson, AZ Costs By Category

Detailed Payson Services Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Payson Arizona
Shampoo $1.24 $1.28
Movie $12.43 $12.13
Bowling $24.03 $18.0
Haircut $31.99 $24.26
Beauty Salon $51.63 $45.56

Detailed Payson Groceries Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Payson Arizona
Ground Beef $5.75 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.47 $1.57
Milk $4.84 $4.67
Potatoes $4.54 $4.93
Pizza $13.22 $12.09
Beer $11.37 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.74 $3.7

Detailed Payson Health Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Payson Arizona
Optometrist $105.08 $125.68
Doctor $126.58 $135.78
Dentist $108.47 $113.29

Detailed Payson Transportation Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Payson Arizona
Gasoline $4.47 $3.46
Tire Balancing $66.63 $59.92

Detailed Payson Utilities Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Payson Arizona
All Electricity $193.37 $193.99
Phone $184.32 $192.25

Payson SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
7
Safety
5
Amenities
8
Education
8
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Payson

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Payson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Scottsdale, AZ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.2x Payson.

  • Camp Verde, AZ has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Payson.

  • Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), AZ has a cost of living index of 138, 1.2x Payson.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Payson
Scottsdale, AZ 242,169 136 1.2x
Camp Verde, AZ 12,282 102 0.9x
Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), AZ 6,340 138 1.2x
Cave Creek, AZ 5,033 129 1.1x

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