What is the cost of living in Surprise, AZ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Surprise has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arizona, Surprise has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arizona's index of 100.
The standard of living in Surprise ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 91 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Surprise ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.
For more reading on life in Surprise, check out:
Surprise Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Surprise. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Surprise is 98.
The Groceries index in Surprise is 101.
The Health index in Surprise is 146.
The Housing index in Surprise is 104.
The Transportation index in Surprise is 116.
The Utilities index in Surprise is 101.
| Living Expense | Surprise | Arizona | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 100 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 146 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 104 | 100 |
Surprise 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 Surprise Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Surprise, 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 Surprise is $422,473.
The Median Rent in Surprise is $2,033.
The Median Income in Surprise is $96,711.
The Home Value To Income in Surprise is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Surprise is 0.25x.
Surprise, AZ Costs By Category
Detailed Surprise Services costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Surprise Groceries costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Surprise Health costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Surprise Transportation costs vs. Arizona
Surprise SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Surprise
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Surprise. 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, 0.9x Surprise.
Peoria, AZ has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Surprise.
El Mirage, AZ has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Surprise.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale, AZ | 252,833 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Peoria, AZ | 196,906 | 116 | 1.0x |
| El Mirage, AZ | 36,088 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Tolleson, AZ | 7,668 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Litchfield Park, AZ | 6,916 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Citrus Park, AZ | 5,115 | 139 | 1.2x |
