✦ Cost of living
Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
US = 100
Metro median gross rent: $1,760/mo · U.S. Census ACS 2023
In plain terms: Phoenix is about 6% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,450/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing113+13%
- Food & groceries101+1%
- Transport106+6%
- Utilities105+5%
- Healthcare101+1%
- Goods & services102+2%
Is Phoenix expensive?
Yes, moderately. Phoenix indexes at 106 against a US average of 100 — roughly 6% above it. That is above average without being in the top bracket, and which neighbourhood you rent in decides most of the gap.
Of the 87 cities we track, Phoenix ranks #30 by overall cost — 57 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Phoenix costs
One person
$3,100/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$4,310/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$7,410/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,150 | $1,450 | $2,600 |
| Food & groceries | $460 | $680 | $1,130 |
| Transport | $640 | $930 | $1,570 |
| Utilities | $210 | $320 | $530 |
| Healthcare | $280 | $410 | $700 |
| Goods & services | $360 | $520 | $880 |
| Total per month | $3,100 | $4,310 | $7,410 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Phoenix
Affordable, fast-growing and sunny nearly year-round — if you can handle triple-digit summers.
- Currency
- US dollar ($ USD)
- Languages
- English
- Time zone
- UTC-7
- Internet
- 200 Mbps
- English
- Native language
- Safety
- 52/100
- Climate
- ❄ 13°C · ☀ 35°C · 299 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B · 120V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Downtown · Arcadia · Tempe
About
“The Valley of the Sun”
Affordable, fast-growing and sunny nearly year-round — if you can handle triple-digit summers.
- Currency
- US dollar · USD
- Languages
- English
- Coordinates
- 33.45, -112.07
- Emergency
- 911
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
37%
Income tax
progressive
0%
VAT / sales
7.65%
Social (employee)
21%
Corporate
20%
Capital gains
$4,300
Avg net salary
per month
Federal; states add 0–13.3% on top.
Visas & residency
Employment-based (H-1B, L-1, O-1) and family routes; famously hard for the green card.
✈ N/A for immigration; ESTA for short visits from VWP countries.
Lottery-based, employer-sponsored.
Max stay: 73 months
For top talent; no lottery.
Citizenship after ~5 yrs. Naturalization after 5 years as LPR (3 if married to citizen).
Quality of life
Quality of life
56/100
Safety
52/100
Healthcare
76/100
Pollution
55/100
Internet
200 Mbps
Jan avg
+13 °C
Jul avg
+35 °C
Sunny days
299/yr
Walkability
42/100
Public transit
40/100
Family-friendly
62/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Native
- Expat community
- Medium
- Coworking spaces
- 40
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Private health insurance
- $450/mo
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Phoenix without a car?
41/100
Car-free score
42/100
Walkability
40/100
Public transport
Partly — Phoenix scores 41/100. Central neighbourhoods work without a car, but move out to the cheaper suburbs and you will want one for commuting and shopping. Budget for a car, or pay the centre's rent premium.
Transport in Phoenix indexes at 106 against a US average of 100 — about 6% more expensive than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Phoenix ranks #80 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Phoenix — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,450
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$1,150
- Inexpensive meal$16
- Monthly transit pass$64
- Utilities (monthly)$190
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
✈ Search cheap flights
Sponsored
? Frequently asked questions
Is Phoenix, AZ expensive to live in?
Phoenix, AZ's cost-of-living index is 106 (US average = 100) — about 6% more expensive than a typical US city — and it ranks #30 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $3,100 a month and a family of four around $7,410, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Phoenix, AZ?
Phoenix, AZ's cost-of-living index is 106 (US average = 100) — about 6% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,450 per month.
What are the average living costs in Phoenix, AZ?
Living costs in Phoenix, AZ are about 6% more expensive than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 106 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,450. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Phoenix, AZ?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,450 per month, and around $1,150 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in United States?
United States has a top income-tax rate of 37% and a VAT or sales tax of 0%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Phoenix, AZ?
Phoenix, AZ averages around +13 °C in January and +35 °C in July, with roughly 299 sunny days a year.
Is Phoenix, AZ safe?
Phoenix, AZ scores 52 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Phoenix, AZ without a car?
Phoenix, AZ scores 41/100 on our car-free score — 42/100 for walkability and 40/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Phoenix with…
★ Ranked in
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.