What is the Cost of Living in Phoenix?

Sperling’s Best Places compares the cost of living in Phoenix, AZ, to the cost of living in Arizona or the USA as a whole in a variety of categories.

Overall, it is marginally more expensive to live in Phoenix than it is elsewhere in Arizona or the United States.

On a scale where 100 represents the US average cost of living, Phoenix is ranked at 103.7, and Arizona at 102.2.

Some costs are less expensive than the US average, such as groceries and healthcare expenses.

Others are pricier, including utilities and transportation.

What about the cost of housing in Phoenix, Arizona? With the US average at 100, the cost of housing in Phoenix is 103.5. But it is slightly less expensive than the 107.8 rating assigned to Arizona.

Sperling’s reports the median home cost for the USA to be $231,200. The median home cost for Arizona is $249,300. For Phoenix, it is $239,400.

Employment Opportunities in Phoenix

The US Census eports that the median household income in Phoenix is $54,765. The per capita income is $27,870.

Phoenix offers many opportunities in the retail industry (Walmart is the largest employer in the state) along with the healthcare industry.

Other major companies which are either based in Phoenix or have a significant presence there include Avnet, PetSmart, Republic Services, Freeport-McMoRan, Honeywell, American Express, U-HAUL, Best Western, American Express, Apollo Group, and Pinnacle West.

Phoenix Education

There are 505 schools in Phoenix, including 446 public schools and 59 private schools.

In terms of higher education, students may attend Arizona State University, which is based in Tempe but has a couple of Phoenix campuses.

Those looking to enter the medical field can consider at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Other institutions of higher education available to Phoenix area residents include the Maricopa County Community College District, Grand Canyon University, the University of Phoenix, Barrow Neurological Institute, and the Arizona Summit Law School.

Getting Around Phoenix

If you’re looking for public transportation options, you can use the Valley Metro system, which includes a combination of trains and buses.

Sperling’s reports that around 3.3% of the population commutes to work using public transit. 5.4% of the population works at home, 12.5% of the population carpools, and the remaining 74.6% drive to work independently.

The average one-way commute time is 25.4 minutes, which is marginally shorter than the 26.4 minutes which is the average across the country.

How is the Weather in Phoenix?

With 299 days of sunlight on average throughout the year, Phoenix is a great place to live if you enjoy hot, bright days.

You can expect around nine annual inches of rain and no snowfall.

Temperatures in July can surpass 100°F. But winter lows are mild, dipping to only around 43°F.

Leisure and Entertainment in Phoenix

What is there to see and do if you are living in Phoenix or the surrounding area?

If you are a sports fan, you can watch the Phoenix Suns, the Phoenix Mercury, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Arizona Coyotes.

Enjoy the performing arts? The Phoenix Symphony Opera, Arizona Opera, the Ballet Arizona and the Orpheum Theatre all feature performances.

If you like to learn, you can stop by museums like the Arizona Capitol Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Arizona Science Center.

Phoenix and the surrounding metro area also offer many opportunities for shopping and dining. In particular, the area is renowned for its Mexican food.