Arizona

Avg COL Index

101

vs. 100 national avg

Where the money goes

The biggest cost pressure in Arizona is car insurance, at 13% above the national average. The biggest break is electricity, at 18% below it.

Rent trend

Rent rose an average of 2.1% over the past year across the 8 cities we track, slower than the 2.7% national change. Show Low saw the biggest move (up 4.8%), while Flagstaff was up just 0.0%.

City to city

Where you live inside Arizona matters. Typical rent runs from $1,278 in Sierra Vista to $2,128 in Flagstaff, a gap of $850 a month or about $10,200 a year.

Affordability

Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 45% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks the 14th highest of 51 states. Median household income there averages $73,617 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).

Energy and driving

Regular gas costs $4.23 a gallon, 6% above the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $135 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $2,420 a year versus $2,150.

Groceries

Grocery prices in the West rose 2.4% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.