Route comparison
Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Denver, CO
CO
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 107.4
- Housing RPP
- 145.8
- Goods RPP
- 105.5
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,201/mo
Colorado flat income tax 4.4%. Denver city tax 2.25% on wages.
Phoenix, AZ
AZ
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 103.7
- Housing RPP
- 122.9
- Goods RPP
- 98.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,877/mo
Arizona income tax 2.5% flat rate (since 2023). No city income tax.
Equivalent salary
Phoenix, AZ is cheaper than Denver, CO by about 3.4% (RPP 107.4 to 103.7).
$60,000 in Denver, CO
-> $57,933
in Phoenix, AZ
$100,000 in Denver, CO
-> $96,555
in Phoenix, AZ
$150,000 in Denver, CO
-> $144,832
in Phoenix, AZ
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.
Migration signal: Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Denver, CO
- Net people
- −9,607
- Net rank
- #49 of 65
- Top origin share
- 3%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Boulder County, CO. Largest destination: Weld County, CO.
Phoenix, AZ
- Net people
- +20,892
- Net rank
- #8 of 65
- Top origin share
- 4%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Pima County, AZ.
Rent delta: Phoenix, AZ is $324/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Denver, CO. Housing RPP moves from 145.8 to 122.9.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Phoenix, AZ cheaper or more expensive than Denver, CO?
- Phoenix, AZ (RPP 103.7) is cheaper than Denver, CO (RPP 107.4) by about 3.4%.
- What salary do I need in Phoenix, AZ if I earn $100,000 in Denver, CO?
- You would need approximately $96,555 in Phoenix, AZ to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Denver, CO. Formula: $100,000 x (103.7 / 107.4).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Denver, CO or Phoenix, AZ?
- For 2021-2022, Denver, CO had a net loss of 9,607 people, while Phoenix, AZ had a net gain of 20,892 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.