City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Phoenix | Potomac | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,322/mo | $2,584/mo | 48.8% lower in A |
| Median home value | $340,200 | $1,044,900 | 67.4% lower in A |
| Median household income | $72,092 | $218,710 | 67.0% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 97.7 | 103.0 | 5.1% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 102.9 | 103.1 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 104.2 | 101.8 | 2.4% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 104.0 | 100.1 | 4.0% higher in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Phoenix, you'd need $119,854 in Potomac to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Phoenix, AZ is about 16.6% cheaper overall than Potomac, MD, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 30% lower in Phoenix than in Potomac. If you earn $80,000 in Phoenix, you'd need about $95,883 in Potomac to keep the same standard of living.