City profile
Phoenix, AZ cost of living
AZ · BLS RPP 103.7
Overall RPP
103.7
US = 100
Housing RPP
122.9
Housing component
Goods RPP
98.3
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,877/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Phoenix, AZ sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#21 of 67
+3.7 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+5.3
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#18 of 67
+271/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Phoenix, AZ
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Phoenix, AZ metro.
Moved in
204,136
people · 117,688 households
Moved out
183,244
people · 103,926 households
Net
+20,892
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#8 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+20,996
median -104 people
Largest flow share
4% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Los Angeles County, CA 7,921
- Pima County, AZ 6,730
- San Diego County, CA 4,817
- Orange County, CA 4,010
- Riverside County, CA 3,599
Where residents moved to
- Pima County, AZ 6,249
- Yavapai County, AZ 4,716
- Los Angeles County, CA 3,247
- Navajo County, AZ 2,801
- San Diego County, CA 2,790
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Phoenix, AZ?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Phoenix, AZ | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $51,850 | $50,000 x (103.7/100) |
| $75,000 | $77,775 | $75,000 x (103.7/100) |
| $100,000 | $103,700 | $100,000 x (103.7/100) |
| $125,000 | $129,625 | $125,000 x (103.7/100) |
| $150,000 | $155,550 | $150,000 x (103.7/100) |
| $200,000 | $207,400 | $200,000 x (103.7/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Arizona income tax 2.5% flat rate (since 2023). No city income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Phoenix, AZ?
- Phoenix, AZ has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 103.7 (US average = 100). It is 3.7% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Phoenix, AZ?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $103,700 in Phoenix, AZ to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Phoenix, AZ?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is approximately $1,877 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Phoenix, AZ?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 204,136 people moved into the Phoenix, AZ metro and 183,244 moved out — a net gain of roughly 20,892 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Los Angeles County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Phoenix, AZ, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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