Phoenix, AZ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Phoenix, AZ Summary

Cost of living in Phoenix 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix is 107, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Phoenix is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Phoenix ranks as the #47 cheapest in Arizona out of 92.

  • Phoenix ranks as the #3,374 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Phoenix is $407,541.

  • The median income in Phoenix is $77,041.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
107
Phoenix's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Phoenix, AZ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Phoenix has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arizona, Phoenix has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arizona's index of 102.

The standard of living in Phoenix ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 92 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Phoenix ranks as the #45 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.

For more reading on life in Phoenix, check out:

47 out of 92
In Arizona
3,374 out of 6,489
In America

Phoenix Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona

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

  • The Services index in Phoenix is 89.

  • The Groceries index in Phoenix is 103.

  • The Health index in Phoenix is 95.

  • The Housing index in Phoenix is 130.

  • The Transportation index in Phoenix is 103.

  • The Utilities index in Phoenix is 99.

Living Expense Phoenix Arizona National Average
Overall 107 102 100
Services 89 102 100
Groceries 103 103 100
Health 95 95 100
Housing 130 99 100
Transportation 103 107 100
Utilities 99 96 100
For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:
Phoenix Cost of Living Vs. AZ

Phoenix, 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 Phoenix is $407,541.

  • The Median Rent in Phoenix is $1,458.

  • The Median Income in Phoenix is $77,041.

  • The Home Value To Income in Phoenix is 5.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Phoenix is 0.23x.

Statistic Phoenix Arizona United States
Median Home Value $407,541 $422,479 $303,400
Median Rent $1,458 $1,431 $1,348
Median Income $77,041 $76,872 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.3x 5.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.22x 0.21x
$407,541
Median Home Value
$1,458
Median Rent
$77,041
Median Income

Phoenix, AZ Costs By Category

Detailed Phoenix Services Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Phoenix Arizona
Shampoo $1.32 $1.28
Movie $9.71 $12.13
Bowling $21.97 $18
Haircut $18.21 $24.26
Beauty Salon $55.83 $45.56

Detailed Phoenix Groceries Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Phoenix Arizona
Ground Beef $6.17 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.78 $4.67
Potatoes $4.6 $4.93
Pizza $12.12 $12.09
Beer $11.51 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.54 $3.7

Detailed Phoenix Health Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Phoenix Arizona
Optometrist $107.63 $125.68
Doctor $99.0 $135.78
Dentist $120.5 $113.29

Detailed Phoenix Transportation Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Phoenix Arizona
Gasoline $3.54 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.83 $59.92

Detailed Phoenix Utilities Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Phoenix Arizona
All Electricity $193.93 $193.99
Phone $186.48 $192.25

Phoenix SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
5
Diversity
9.5
Safety
4
Amenities
9.5
Education
6
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Phoenix

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

  • Glendale, AZ has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Phoenix.

  • Scottsdale, AZ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.3x Phoenix.

  • Peoria, AZ has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Phoenix.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Phoenix
Glendale, AZ 250,193 102 1.0x
Scottsdale, AZ 242,169 136 1.3x
Peoria, AZ 194,338 117 1.1x
Tempe, AZ 186,419 113 1.1x
El Mirage, AZ 35,823 103 1.0x
Paradise Valley, AZ 12,621 286 2.7x
Tolleson, AZ 7,233 98 0.9x
Litchfield Park, AZ 6,871 128 1.2x
Guadalupe, AZ 5,293 92 0.9x
Cave Creek, AZ 5,033 129 1.2x

Articles About Arizona

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