Cost of Living in Phoenix, Arizona (2026)
COL Index
100
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$1,500
per month
Median HHI
$65K
per year
State Tax
2.5%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Phoenix |
|---|---|
| ๐ HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $1,200 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $1,500 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $1,900 |
| Median home price | $380K |
| ๐ Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 97 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $13 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $55 |
| ๐ TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $64 |
| Gas price/gal | $3.20 |
| Car insurance/mo | $160 |
| โก UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $210 |
| Internet/mo | $60 |
| ๐ฐ Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $65K |
| State income tax rate | 2.5% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 8.6% |
| ๐ OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 100 |
| Walk score / 100 | 41 |
Is Phoenix affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,645/mo take-home
57% rent burden ยท Difficult
$50K
~$3,056/mo take-home
49% rent burden ยท Difficult
$60K
~$3,668/mo take-home
41% rent burden ยท Tight
$75K
~$4,584/mo take-home
33% rent burden ยท Manageable
$80K
~$4,890/mo take-home
31% rent burden ยท Manageable
$100K
~$6,113/mo take-home
25% rent burden ยท Comfortable
$120K
~$6,905/mo take-home
22% rent burden ยท Very comfortable
$150K
~$8,631/mo take-home
17% rent burden ยท Very comfortable
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Phoenix.
Compare Phoenix with other cities
Phoenix vs New YorkCompare โPhoenix vs Los AngelesCompare โPhoenix vs ChicagoCompare โPhoenix vs HoustonCompare โ
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS ยท Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only