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 | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,322/mo | $1,822/mo | 27.4% lower in A |
| Median home value | $340,200 | $352,600 | 3.5% lower in A |
| Median household income | $72,092 | $87,756 | 17.8% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 103.1 | 107.8 | 4.3% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 123.5 | 131.1 | 5.8% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 102.5 | 112.2 | 8.6% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 101.2 | 114.2 | 11.4% 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 $120,531 in Surprise to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Phoenix, AZ is about 17% cheaper overall than Surprise, AZ, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 27% lower in Phoenix than in Surprise. If you earn $80,000 in Phoenix, you'd need about $96,425 in Surprise to keep the same standard of living.