Cost of living in Arizona
Prices in Arizona are 0.7% above the US average (17th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $1,481 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5.6%.
Price levels in Arizona
| BEA RPP 2024 | Arizona | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Goods | 95.4 | −4.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 106.8 | +6.8% |
| Utilities | 92.3 | −7.7% |
| Other services | 102.8 | +2.8% |
Metros in Arizona
Metros whose principal city is in Arizona. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 5,228,938 | 103.3 | $1,734 | $270 | $969 |
| Tucson, AZ | 1,074,685 | 96.9 | $1,405 | $250 | $1,379 |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 252,552 | 98.3 | $1,550 | $225 | $1,229 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 228,102 | 94.1 | $1,229 | $188 | $1,512 |
| Yuma, AZ | 224,449 | 92.7 | $1,244 | $188 | $1,523 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 144,368 | 100.3 | $1,729 | $225 | $916 |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 126,332 | 89.2 | $1,153 | $215 | $1,471 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Arizona (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Arizona income tax | $856 | $1,481 | $2,606 | $1,963 |
| Arizona payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,458 | $5,009 | $7,554 | $8,601 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Arizona’s income and payroll taxes cost $1,481 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Arizona
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $215 | $13,666 | $175 |
| Toddler (2) | $162 | $10,291 | $175 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $162 | $10,291 | $175 |
| School-age (5–12) | $165 | $10,488 | $163 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $188 a week in La Paz County to $270 in Maricopa County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 15 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pima County | $319,700 | $2,272 | 0.71% |
| Yuma County | $217,800 | $1,333 | 0.61% |
| Cochise County | $218,300 | $1,310 | 0.60% |
| Pinal County | $349,000 | $1,636 | 0.47% |
| Coconino County | $448,000 | $2,051 | 0.46% |
| Mohave County | $281,000 | $1,238 | 0.44% |
| Maricopa County | $452,800 | $1,983 | 0.44% |
| Yavapai County | $425,200 | $1,750 | 0.41% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Arizona
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 234,819 in, 179,314 out (net +55,505).
- California52,383 ±6,890
- Washington17,601 ±3,256
- Texas10,306 ±2,404
- Colorado10,284 ±2,531
- Illinois9,445 ±2,340
- North Carolina9,435 ±5,922
- Ohio8,866 ±3,901
- Michigan7,691 ±3,101
- California28,174 ±4,463
- Texas13,503 ±3,464
- Colorado9,762 ±2,707
- Utah9,643 ±2,547
- Florida9,255 ±2,344
- Washington8,638 ±2,604
- Oregon7,194 ±2,095
- Illinois6,130 ±1,899
Frequently asked questions
Is Arizona expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Arizona’s overall price level at 100.7 in 2024 (US = 100), the 17th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 106.8 and goods 95.4.
Does Arizona have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $1,481 in Arizona income tax under 2026 law (2.0% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Arizona?+
The state rate is 5.6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Arizona?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Yuma, AZ leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,523), and Flagstaff, AZ the least ($916).