Cost of Living in Arizona
Updated November 2026 · population 7,378,838
Arizona prices are 0.7% above the US average (index 100.7), ranking 17th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest cost driver at 106.8, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,845 a month.
Prices by category
Arizona price index by category, US average = 100: All items 100.7, Housing (rents) 106.8, Goods 95.4, Utilities 92.3, Other services 102.8
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Arizona (whole state) | 100.7 |
| Metropolitan areas of Arizona | 101.4 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Arizona | 81.7 |
Cities in Arizona
Select a column heading to sort.
| Phoenix | 1,642,323 | 102.0 | $2,906 | $5,684 | $1,582 | $420,700 |
| Tucson | 547,073 | 94.8 | $2,486 | $5,241 | $1,145 | $266,200 |
| Mesa | 511,764 | 102.5 | $2,931 | $5,705 | $1,620 | $408,000 |
| Gilbert | 280,262 | 108.7 | $3,291 | $6,085 | $2,110 | $575,100 |
| Chandler | 280,136 | 106.1 | $3,313 | $6,081 | $1,902 | $507,800 |
| Glendale | 252,833 | 101.3 | $2,863 | $5,550 | $1,528 | $387,500 |
| Scottsdale | 243,821 | 107.5 | $3,406 | $6,395 | $2,013 | $789,800 |
| Peoria | 196,906 | 105.3 | $3,276 | $5,892 | $1,843 | $463,600 |
| Tempe | 188,065 | 104.0 | $3,167 | $5,981 | $1,743 | $455,400 |
| Surprise | 154,948 | 107.7 | $3,207 | $5,879 | $2,033 | $435,100 |
| San Tan Valley | 109,189 | 108.4 | $3,268 | $6,022 | $2,085 | $410,100 |
| Goodyear | 107,645 | 106.8 | $3,271 | $5,943 | $1,956 | $471,300 |
| Buckeye | 104,923 | 106.8 | $3,208 | $5,934 | $1,963 | $419,800 |
| Yuma | 100,139 | 95.0 | $2,360 | $5,099 | $1,114 | $230,000 |
| Avondale | 92,477 | 105.2 | $3,149 | $5,857 | $1,832 | $394,600 |
| Flagstaff | 76,445 | 103.6 | $3,104 | $5,902 | $1,645 | $552,900 |
| Casas Adobes | 72,059 | 101.3 | $2,876 | $5,587 | $1,650 | $343,400 |
| Queen Creek | 71,867 | 110.0 | $3,383 | $6,159 | $2,210 | $635,400 |
| Maricopa | 67,163 | 107.3 | $3,222 | $5,956 | $1,998 | $377,200 |
| Casa Grande | 60,905 | 99.5 | $2,412 | $5,343 | $1,386 | $303,900 |
| Lake Havasu City | 58,359 | 96.9 | $2,550 | $5,338 | $1,320 | $455,400 |
| Marana | 56,938 | 103.4 | $3,163 | $5,617 | $1,818 | $413,800 |
| Catalina Foothills resort/outlier | 52,593 | 98.2 | $2,648 | $5,952 | $1,412 | $652,000 |
| Sedona | 9,777 | 99.7 | $2,841 | $5,414 | $1,448 | $786,800 |
Metro areas in Arizona
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 103.3 | 121.2 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 100.3 | 109.0 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | 98.3 | 98.8 |
| Tucson, AZ | 96.9 | 91.8 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 94.1 | 79.8 |
| Yuma, AZ | 92.7 | 73.8 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 89.2 | 61.9 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Arizona.
Modelled monthly budget at Arizona average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Arizona (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,141 | $13,692 | 40% |
| Utilities | $257 | $3,084 | 9% |
| Food at home | $269 | $3,228 | 9% |
| Transportation | $654 | $7,848 | 23% |
| Health care | $361 | $4,332 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $163 | $1,956 | 6% |
| Total | $2,845 | $34,140 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Arizona (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,349 | $16,188 | 30% |
| Utilities | $408 | $4,896 | 9% |
| Food at home | $497 | $5,964 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,293 | $15,516 | 28% |
| Health care | $670 | $8,040 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $321 | $3,852 | 7% |
| Total | $4,538 | $54,456 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Arizona (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,583 | $18,996 | 29% |
| Utilities | $496 | $5,952 | 9% |
| Food at home | $708 | $8,496 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,724 | $20,688 | 31% |
| Health care | $624 | $7,488 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $413 | $4,956 | 7% |
| Total | $5,548 | $66,576 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
15.05¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change −0.3% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: West Coast excl. California (PADD 5)
$4.77/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +25.9% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the West region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 97.8 | 99.2 | 96.6 | 100.0 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
Change over the period: +2.9 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arizona an expensive state to live in?
Arizona has a cost of living index of 100.7 (US = 100), 0.7% above the US average. It ranks 17th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 106.8 (rank 16), goods 95.4, utilities 92.3 and other services 102.8. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Arizona?
At Arizona state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,845 for a single adult, $4,538 for a couple and $5,548 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 101.4 and nonmetro areas 81.7.
What is the median rent and home value in Arizona?
The median gross rent in Arizona is $1,543 a month and the median home value is $394,500 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 30.8% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 04.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (West Coast excl. California (PADD 5), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, West region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology