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 | Salinas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,322/mo | $1,795/mo | 26.4% lower in A |
| Median home value | $340,200 | $573,600 | 40.7% lower in A |
| Median household income | $72,092 | $84,250 | 14.4% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 103.1 | 107.5 | 4.1% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 123.5 | 130.7 | 5.5% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 102.5 | 111.7 | 8.2% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 101.2 | 113.5 | 10.9% lower 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 $119,418 in Salinas to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Phoenix, AZ is about 16.3% cheaper overall than Salinas, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 26% lower in Phoenix than in Salinas. If you earn $80,000 in Phoenix, you'd need about $95,534 in Salinas to keep the same standard of living.