Tempe, AZ Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Tempe, AZ Summary

Cost of living in Tempe 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 Tempe 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 Tempe is 113, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Tempe ranks as the #58 cheapest in Arizona out of 92.

  • Tempe ranks as the #3,948 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Tempe is $466,004.

  • The median income in Tempe is $77,643.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
113
Tempe's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Tempe, AZ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tempe has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arizona, Tempe has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arizona's index of 102.

The standard of living in Tempe ranks as #58 most affordable out of the 92 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Tempe ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.

For more reading on life in Tempe, check out:

58 out of 92
In Arizona
3,948 out of 6,489
In America

Tempe Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona

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

  • The Services index in Tempe is 92.

  • The Groceries index in Tempe is 105.

  • The Health index in Tempe is 95.

  • The Housing index in Tempe is 146.

  • The Transportation index in Tempe is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Tempe is 100.

Living Expense Tempe Arizona National Average
Overall 113 102 100
Services 92 102 100
Groceries 105 103 100
Health 95 95 100
Housing 146 99 100
Transportation 102 107 100
Utilities 100 96 100
For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:
Tempe Cost of Living Vs. AZ

Tempe, 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 Tempe is $466,004.

  • The Median Rent in Tempe is $1,623.

  • The Median Income in Tempe is $77,643.

  • The Home Value To Income in Tempe is 6.0x.

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

Statistic Tempe Arizona United States
Median Home Value $466,004 $422,479 $303,400
Median Rent $1,623 $1,431 $1,348
Median Income $77,643 $76,872 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.0x 5.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.22x 0.21x
$466,004
Median Home Value
$1,623
Median Rent
$77,643
Median Income

Tempe, AZ Costs By Category

Detailed Tempe Services Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Tempe 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 Tempe Groceries Costs Vs. Arizona

Item Tempe 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 Tempe Health Costs Vs. Arizona

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

Detailed Tempe Transportation Costs Vs. Arizona

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

Detailed Tempe Utilities Costs Vs. Arizona

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

Tempe SnackAbility

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

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tempe

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tempe. 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 107, 0.9x Tempe.

  • Mesa, AZ has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Tempe.

  • Chandler, AZ has a cost of living index of 128, 1.1x Tempe.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Tempe
Phoenix, AZ 1,624,832 107 0.9x
Mesa, AZ 507,478 116 1.0x
Chandler, AZ 278,123 128 1.1x
Gilbert, AZ 271,118 133 1.2x
Glendale, AZ 250,193 102 0.9x
Goodyear, AZ 102,891 120 1.1x
Queen Creek, AZ 66,369 135 1.2x
Santa Cruz, CA 60,953 205 1.8x
Fountain Hills, AZ 23,768 137 1.2x
Sun Lakes, AZ 14,079 123 1.1x

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