What is the cost of living in Scottsdale, AZ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Scottsdale has an overall cost of living index of 144, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arizona, Scottsdale has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Arizona's index of 100.
The standard of living in Scottsdale ranks as #90 most affordable out of the 91 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Scottsdale ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.
For more reading on life in Scottsdale, check out:
Scottsdale Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Scottsdale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Scottsdale is 101.
The Groceries index in Scottsdale is 103.
The Health index in Scottsdale is 243.
The Housing index in Scottsdale is 107.
The Transportation index in Scottsdale is 112.
The Utilities index in Scottsdale is 104.
| Living Expense | Scottsdale | Arizona | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 144 | 100 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 243 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale is $858,022.
The Median Rent in Scottsdale is $2,013.
The Median Income in Scottsdale is $110,886.
The Home Value To Income in Scottsdale is 7.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Scottsdale is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Scottsdale | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $858,022 | $423,329 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,013 | $1,543 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $110,886 | $79,964 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.7x | 5.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.23x | 0.21x |
Scottsdale, AZ Costs By Category
Detailed Scottsdale Services costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Scottsdale | 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 Scottsdale Groceries costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Scottsdale | 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 Scottsdale Health costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Scottsdale | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $107.63 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $99.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Scottsdale Transportation costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Scottsdale | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.54 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.83 | $59.92 |
Detailed Scottsdale Utilities costs vs. Arizona
| Item | Scottsdale | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.93 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.48 | $192.25 |
Scottsdale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Scottsdale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Scottsdale. 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, 0.8x Scottsdale.
Mesa, AZ has a cost of living index of 112, 0.8x Scottsdale.
Tempe, AZ has a cost of living index of 117, 0.8x Scottsdale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,642,323 | 111 | 0.8x |
| Mesa, AZ | 511,764 | 112 | 0.8x |
| Tempe, AZ | 188,065 | 117 | 0.8x |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 23,789 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Anthem, AZ | 22,584 | 132 | 0.9x |
| New River, AZ | 18,240 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Paradise Valley, AZ | 12,611 | 301 | 2.1x |
| Cave Creek, AZ | 5,091 | 127 | 0.9x |
