Before you decide to relocate to Arizona, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Arizona that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 55 places in Arizona with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Arizona for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Arizona For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Arizona? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Paradise Valley is the most expensive place to live in Arizona.
Winslow (the cheapest place to live in Arizona) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Arizona and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Arizona For 2026
/10
Population: 12,611
Cost Of Living Index: 301
Median Income: $247,159
Average Home Price: $3,474,596
Home Price To Income Ratio: 14.1x
More on Paradise Valley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Paradise Valley is 301. The median income in Paradise Valley comes in at $247,159 and the average home value is $3,474,596 for 2026.
/10
Population: 243,821
Cost Of Living Index: 144
Median Income: $110,886
Average Home Price: $858,022
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.7x
More on Scottsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Scottsdale is 144. The median income in Scottsdale comes in at $110,886 and the average home value is $858,022 for 2026.
/10
Population: 9,777
Cost Of Living Index: 141
Median Income: $73,738
Average Home Price: $909,102
Home Price To Income Ratio: 12.3x
More on Sedona: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Sedona is 141. The median income in Sedona comes in at $73,738 and the average home value is $909,102 for 2026.
/10
Population: 23,789
Cost Of Living Index: 134
Median Income: $112,654
Average Home Price: $670,052
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.9x
More on Fountain Hills: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Fountain Hills is 134. The median income in Fountain Hills comes in at $112,654 and the average home value is $670,052 for 2026.
/10
Population: 71,867
Cost Of Living Index: 132
Median Income: $141,978
Average Home Price: $632,223
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Queen Creek: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Queen Creek is 132. The median income in Queen Creek comes in at $141,978 and the average home value is $632,223 for 2026.
/10
Population: 280,262
Cost Of Living Index: 129
Median Income: $122,551
Average Home Price: $572,507
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Gilbert: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Gilbert is 129. The median income in Gilbert comes in at $122,551 and the average home value is $572,507 for 2026.
/10
Population: 76,445
Cost Of Living Index: 128
Median Income: $71,512
Average Home Price: $656,480
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.2x
More on Flagstaff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Flagstaff is 128. The median income in Flagstaff comes in at $71,512 and the average home value is $656,480 for 2026.
/10
Population: 5,091
Cost Of Living Index: 127
Median Income: $107,067
Average Home Price: $1,054,561
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.8x
More on Cave Creek: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Cave Creek is 127. The median income in Cave Creek comes in at $107,067 and the average home value is $1,054,561 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,916
Cost Of Living Index: 126
Median Income: $126,250
Average Home Price: $525,410
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on Litchfield Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Litchfield Park is 126. The median income in Litchfield Park comes in at $126,250 and the average home value is $525,410 for 2026.
/10
Population: 280,136
Cost Of Living Index: 125
Median Income: $108,095
Average Home Price: $524,155
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.8x
More on Chandler: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Chandler is 125. The median income in Chandler comes in at $108,095 and the average home value is $524,155 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Grand Canyon State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Arizona are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Arizona to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 55 places in Arizona that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Arizona according to the data is Paradise Valley. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Arizona.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Arizona For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Arizona that have the highest cost of living, with Paradise Valley ranking as the most expensive city in the Grand Canyon State.
The most expensive cities in Arizona are Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Sedona, Fountain Hills, Queen Creek, Gilbert, Flagstaff, Cave Creek, Litchfield Park, and Chandler.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Arizona according to the data:
- Winslow
- Douglas
- Eloy
For more Arizona reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arizona
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arizona
- Most Dangerous Cities In Arizona
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arizona
- Safest Places In Arizona
- Worst Places To Live In Arizona
Most Expensive Cities In Arizona
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paradise Valley | 301 | 12,611 | $247,159 | $3,474,596 | 14.1x |
| 2 | Scottsdale | 144 | 243,821 | $110,886 | $858,022 | 7.7x |
| 3 | Sedona | 141 | 9,777 | $73,738 | $909,102 | 12.3x |
| 4 | Fountain Hills | 134 | 23,789 | $112,654 | $670,052 | 5.9x |
| 5 | Queen Creek | 132 | 71,867 | $141,978 | $632,223 | 4.5x |
| 6 | Gilbert | 129 | 280,262 | $122,551 | $572,507 | 4.7x |
| 7 | Flagstaff | 128 | 76,445 | $71,512 | $656,480 | 9.2x |
| 8 | Cave Creek | 127 | 5,091 | $107,067 | $1,054,561 | 9.8x |
| 9 | Litchfield Park | 126 | 6,916 | $126,250 | $525,410 | 4.2x |
| 10 | Chandler | 125 | 280,136 | $108,095 | $524,155 | 4.8x |
| 11 | Prescott | 123 | 47,400 | $70,874 | $605,543 | 8.5x |
| 12 | Goodyear | 122 | 107,645 | $103,319 | $469,424 | 4.5x |
| 13 | Oro Valley | 121 | 48,162 | $107,117 | $506,583 | 4.7x |
| 14 | Marana | 118 | 56,938 | $112,606 | $436,914 | 3.9x |
| 15 | Tempe | 117 | 188,065 | $79,663 | $468,281 | 5.9x |
| 16 | Peoria | 116 | 196,906 | $95,815 | $488,595 | 5.1x |
| 17 | Surprise | 114 | 154,948 | $96,711 | $422,473 | 4.4x |
| 18 | Avondale | 113 | 92,477 | $86,123 | $398,567 | 4.6x |
| 19 | Maricopa | 113 | 67,163 | $96,391 | $346,283 | 3.6x |
| 20 | Lake Havasu City | 113 | 58,359 | $70,148 | $463,713 | 6.6x |
| 21 | Mesa | 112 | 511,764 | $82,752 | $435,133 | 5.3x |
| 22 | Chino Valley | 112 | 13,602 | $61,237 | $500,150 | 8.2x |
| 23 | Phoenix | 111 | 1,642,323 | $81,332 | $410,168 | 5.0x |
| 24 | Prescott Valley | 111 | 49,179 | $74,569 | $462,396 | 6.2x |
| 25 | Sahuarita | 111 | 35,862 | $104,680 | $353,394 | 3.4x |
| 26 | Payson | 109 | 16,622 | $67,710 | $446,819 | 6.6x |
| 27 | Glendale | 108 | 252,833 | $73,530 | $407,332 | 5.5x |
| 28 | Wickenburg | 107 | 8,059 | $67,600 | $513,341 | 7.6x |
| 29 | Tolleson | 105 | 7,668 | $59,626 | $394,929 | 6.6x |
| 30 | Page | 105 | 7,345 | $88,826 | $378,791 | 4.3x |
| 31 | El Mirage | 104 | 36,088 | $78,050 | $342,377 | 4.4x |
| 32 | Florence | 104 | 25,570 | $79,644 | $333,592 | 4.2x |
| 33 | Cottonwood | 104 | 12,580 | $48,448 | $397,513 | 8.2x |
| 34 | Tucson | 102 | 547,073 | $57,073 | $324,023 | 5.7x |
| 35 | Sierra Vista | 102 | 45,155 | $70,291 | $298,883 | 4.3x |
| 36 | Camp Verde | 102 | 12,521 | $69,203 | $431,371 | 6.2x |
| 37 | Show Low | 102 | 12,102 | $60,368 | $436,997 | 7.2x |
| 38 | Yuma | 100 | 100,139 | $65,482 | $301,507 | 4.6x |
| 39 | Kingman | 99 | 34,375 | $61,792 | $273,782 | 4.4x |
| 40 | Snowflake | 99 | 6,444 | $76,174 | $344,540 | 4.5x |
| 41 | Thatcher | 99 | 5,439 | $82,917 | $350,904 | 4.2x |
| 42 | Casa Grande | 98 | 60,905 | $69,983 | $319,031 | 4.6x |
| 43 | Somerton | 98 | 14,574 | $74,015 | $271,557 | 3.7x |
| 44 | Globe | 97 | 7,195 | $69,170 | $238,040 | 3.4x |
| 45 | Guadalupe | 97 | 5,272 | $51,354 | $243,844 | 4.7x |
| 46 | Safford | 96 | 10,239 | $65,647 | $287,457 | 4.4x |
| 47 | Bullhead City | 95 | 42,496 | $50,556 | $299,831 | 5.9x |
| 48 | Coolidge | 95 | 16,636 | $67,023 | $270,014 | 4.0x |
| 49 | Apache Junction | 92 | 41,058 | $60,975 | $376,627 | 6.2x |
| 50 | Nogales | 92 | 19,841 | $43,214 | $220,631 | 5.1x |
| 51 | Benson | 92 | 5,417 | $49,346 | $253,541 | 5.1x |
| 52 | San Luis | 91 | 37,337 | $59,400 | $238,910 | 4.0x |
| 53 | Eloy | 91 | 17,433 | $55,736 | $275,409 | 4.9x |
| 54 | Douglas | 88 | 15,981 | $42,019 | $173,569 | 4.1x |
| 55 | Winslow | 88 | 8,773 | $58,346 | $203,633 | 3.5x |