If you’re considering a move to Arizona, you aren’t alone. The Grand Canyon State welcomes thousands of new residents every year — especially in the capital city of Phoenix, which had the fastest-growing population in the U.S. from 2019 to 2020, according to Census data. Its second-largest city, Tucson, ranked as one of Bankrate’s top places to live in the country in 2022.

It’s easy to understand why so many are relocating to Arizona: The state boasts 300 days of sunshine per year, a robust job market and median home prices below the national average. However, the cost of living in Arizona can vary greatly depending on where in the state you live. Here’s a look at the breakdown.

Housing costs

According to Arizona Realtors, the median sale price for a home in the state was $349,048 in October 2022. That’s up 7.4 percent since the same time in 2021 and a dramatic increase from October 2019, when the median sale price was $218,000. Much of this growth comes from the Phoenix market, which has some of the fastest-rising home prices in the country. In more rural areas, which account for the majority of the state, homebuyers can expect to pay much lower prices.

Similarly, rent has also been rising in parts of Arizona. In Phoenix, for example, the average rent for a one-bedroom property is $1,390, which is an 18.8 percent increase since last year, according to Zumper’s National Rent Report for November 2022. One-bedroom rentals in Scottsdale average an even higher $1,900 per month. It isn’t all bad news, though: One-bedrooms in Tucson average just $940 per month, while prices in Gilbert have decreased by nearly 4 percent year-over-year.

Job market in Arizona

Arizona’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in November 2022, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is higher than the national average of 3.7 percent, but a December study by the University of Arizona predicts that the state’s job market is growing, albeit slowly.

Some of the largest employers in the Grand Canyon State include Banner Health, Amazon, Walmart and Arizona State University. Large companies based in the state include PetSmart, Circle K and U-Haul. Data from ZipRecruiter, an employment website, shows the average annual salary in Arizona as of November 2022 was $52,737.

Food costs

Like other parts of the country, grocery and food costs in Arizona have been on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index shows that food prices in the West increased 9.9 percent between November 2021 and November 2022.

According to MIT’s living wage calculator, a single person with no kids can expect to pay $3,999 per year for food. For a family of four, annual food expenses add up to $11,764.

Transportation in Arizona

While it’s possible to get around in Phoenix or Tucson using public transportation, you’ll probably need a car if you live outside of these cities or plan on traveling around the state. In Phoenix, you’ll pay $64 for a 31-day unlimited bus and light rail pass. Annually, single adults in Arizona typically pay $4,938 per year in transportation costs, according to MIT data. Families of four can expect to pay $13,456 per year for transportation. According to AAA, the average price of gas in Arizona in mid-December was $3.522 per gallon, quite a bit higher than the country-wide average of $3.142 per gallon.

Local and state taxes and fees

  • There are four income tax brackets in Arizona, ranging from 2.59 percent for the lowest earners to 4.5 percent for the highest.
  • The state’s sales tax rate is 5.6 percent according to the Tax Foundation, but when combined with local taxes, the average amount that Arizonans pay in sales tax is 8.4 percent.
  • On the plus side, the state has no estate tax.
  • Property taxes are on the lower side compared to other states — on average, Arizona homeowners pay 0.66 percent of their home’s value in annual property taxes.
  • As of mid-December, mortgage rates in Arizona were averaging 6.58 percent for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 5.98 percent for a 15-year fixed.

Moving to Arizona

It’s common to think of Arizona as a desert state, but its geography is much more diverse than that: There are lakes, mountains and forests, with higher-elevation parts even seeing snow during the colder months.

Aside from the varying climates and landscapes, there are also different costs of living across the state. For example, Scottsdale, an upscale Phoenix suburb, has an 18.29 percent higher cost of living than Yuma, a more remote city near the Mexican border. You can use Bankrate’s cost of living calculator to compare prices in Arizona and other parts of the country.

If you’re thinking about buying a house in Arizona, it’s important to work with a reputable local real estate agent who understands the market. An agent will use their knowledge of local housing trends, prices and buying timelines to help you with your home search — which can be especially helpful if you’re moving from another state.

FAQs

  • A single person working full-time would need to earn at least $17.43 per hour to live comfortably in Arizona, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator. (It defines “living wage” as the amount an individual needs to earn to support themselves and their family.) Given a 40-hour workweek and 52 weeks per year, this works out to an annual salary of about $36,254.
  • Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that consumer spending averaged $44,875 in the state, per capita, putting it well below the national average of $47,915.  Certain things in Arizona are more expensive than in some other states, such as sales and local taxes and gas prices. However, property taxes here are lower than in many other states, and the state minimum wage will be raised from $12.80 to $13.85 per hour in 2023. Home prices in Arizona are also below the national average, though they have been rising.