Best places to live in Arizona
CityLedger tracks 5 Arizona metros, led by Phoenix. Cost of living runs from about 93 to 103 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 5 metros in Arizona, the largest being the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area (around 5,186,958 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $60,952 in Lake Havasu City to $90,133 in Phoenix, and typical rent from $1,099 a month in Yuma upward — a reminder that "Arizona" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Yuma has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 93 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Phoenix delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $87,240.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Arizona levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 8.4% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Arizona state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Phoenix earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 58/100; Prescott Valley is the fastest-growing, up 7.2% over the latest population estimate; Phoenix carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $14 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 58 | 103 | $90,133 | $1,819/mo |
| Tucson, AZ | 47 | 97 | $72,067 | $1,300/mo |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 47 | 98 | $74,788 | $1,542/mo |
| Yuma, AZ | 27 | 93 | $66,844 | $1,099/mo |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 21 | 94 | $60,952 | $1,120/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Arizona — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Arizona?
- By overall price level, Yuma is the most affordable metro in Arizona, at about 93 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Arizona?
- Phoenix has the highest cost-adjusted income in Arizona — a median of about $87,240 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Arizona have a state income tax?
- Yes. Arizona levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 8.4%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Arizona metro has the highest livability score?
- Phoenix, at 58/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.