Phoenix Relocation Guide
ARIZONA’S COST of LIVING
Anyone planning to relocate needs to know just how far their paychecks will stretch in their new, adopted city. After all, if you’re used to inexpensive mortgages or rental prices, reason- able grocery bills and affordable health care, you don’t want to be surprised if the bills skyrocket when you choose to move to another city. The good news is that, in Phoenix and Tucson, when compared to cities that are about the same size, your hard-earned dollar will likely stretch a bit further – and that attracts people to the area. In fact, in the last several years, Phoenix and Tucson have experienced thriving population growth leading the way with the highest and second- highest growth rate of any Arizona city or town. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index ranks a range of living expenses in major cities. Compiled by ACCRA – a national organization dedicated to economic development and policy research – the index
measures differences between areas in the cost of consumer goods and services, minus taxes and non-consumer expenditures.
The index also measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas, like groceries, housing, utilities and more. The average for a participating place – both metropolitan and non-metro – is 100, and each participant’s index is read as a percentage of the average for all places. In Phoenix and Tucson, you’ll find yourself paying about the same for transportation, utilities, health care, and other goods and services as with other, similar-sized cities. And when it comes to necessities like housing and groceries, Phoenix and Tucson prices remain affordable. Whether you’re thinking about moving here, or are already here, it’s easy to see that Arizona measures up not only in terms of quality of life, but also with its affordability. l
When it comes to overall cost of living, Phoenix and Tucson are still quite affordable places to live and work. Here’s how they ranked in comparison to other major U.S. cities (2019 1st Quarter).
Composite 100%
Grocery 13.40%
Housing 29.34%
Utilities 8.94%
Transportation 9.22%
Healthcare 4.26%
Misc. 34.84%
City
Atlanta
102.3
101.8
104.2
85.7
100.6
107
105.1
Austin
99.5
89.7
103.1
95.6
91.2
106.2
102.6
Boston
153.5
110.5
227.2
119.6
121.4
117
129.6
Chicago
120
96.8
150.9
93.6
128
100.9
109.8
Cleveland
95.7
106.4
81.7
96.9
92.3
104.2
103
Dallas/Fort Worth
106.7
101.9
112.8
107.9
93.5
105.2
106.7
Denver
111.1
98.6
137
83.6
102
102.6
104.5
New York (Manhattan)
238.4
139.7
487.6
123
142.2
111.9
136.9
Phoenix
97.4
97
96
109.2
113.2
92.9
92
Raleigh
94.5
90.8
85
96.3
97.7
101.3
101.7
San Francisco
200.1
135.6
359.4
122.2
150
130.5
132.4
Seattle
159.4
128.6
225.7
107.9
143.6
130
136.4
Tuscon
96.7
98.8
87
98.6
109.9
99.3
99.8
Statistics Source: ACCRA
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