Phoenix, AZ Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Phoenix. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Phoenix compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Phoenix, Arizona

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:

111 Cost of living index 1.1x higher vs US
#52 Cheapest in Arizona (of 91)
#3,622 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$410,168 Median home value
$1,582 Median rent
$81,332 Median income
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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 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arizona, Phoenix has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arizona's index of 100.

The standard of living in Phoenix ranks as #52 most affordable out of the 91 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Phoenix ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.

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Phoenix Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona

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

  • The Services index in Phoenix is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Phoenix is 104.

  • The Health index in Phoenix is 133.

  • The Housing index in Phoenix is 106.

  • The Transportation index in Phoenix is 112.

  • The Utilities index in Phoenix is 103.

Living Expense Phoenix Arizona National Average
Overall 111 100 100
Services 105 99 100
Groceries 104 99 100
Health 133 97 100
Housing 106 104 100
Transportation 112 113 100
Utilities 103 104 100

Phoenix Cost Of Living Compared To Arizona Averages

Services
Phoenix 105
Arizona avg 99
Groceries
Phoenix 104
Arizona avg 99
Health
Phoenix 133
Arizona avg 97
Housing
Phoenix 106
Arizona avg 104
Transportation
Phoenix 112
Arizona avg 113
Utilities
Phoenix 103
Arizona avg 104

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Phoenix, AZ Housing Cost Breakdown

$410,168Median Home Value
$1,582Median Rent
$81,332Median Income

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 Phoenix is $410,168.

  • The Median Rent in Phoenix is $1,582.

  • The Median Income in Phoenix is $81,332.

  • The Home Value To Income in Phoenix is 5.0x.

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

Statistic Phoenix Arizona United States
Median Home Value $410,168 $423,329 $332,700
Median Rent $1,582 $1,543 $1,413
Median Income $81,332 $79,964 $80,734
Home Value To Income 5.0x 5.3x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.23x 0.21x

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

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

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 108, 1.0x Phoenix.

  • Scottsdale, AZ has a cost of living index of 144, 1.3x Phoenix.

  • Peoria, AZ has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Phoenix.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Phoenix
Glendale, AZ 252,833 108 1.0x
Scottsdale, AZ 243,821 144 1.3x
Peoria, AZ 196,906 116 1.0x
Tempe, AZ 188,065 117 1.1x
El Mirage, AZ 36,088 104 0.9x
Paradise Valley, AZ 12,611 301 2.7x
Tolleson, AZ 7,668 105 0.9x
Litchfield Park, AZ 6,916 126 1.1x
Guadalupe, AZ 5,272 97 0.9x
Cave Creek, AZ 5,091 127 1.1x