City Profile

Phoenix, Arizona

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Phoenix, often called the "Valley of the Sun," is the capital and most populous city in Arizona, known for its year-round warm temperatures and abundant sunshine. The city has a rich history rooted in agriculture and mining, evolving into a major metropolitan hub in the Southwestern United States. Its desert landscape, framed by mountains, offers a unique blend of urban amenities and outdoor recreational opportunities. Phoenix attracts a diverse population, including retirees, young professionals, and families, drawn by its growing economy, relatively affordable cost of living compared to coastal cities, and a vibrant lifestyle.

About Arizona

Arizona offers a diverse landscape, from low-elevation deserts to mountainous regions, and is known for its abundant sunshine, averaging around 300 sunny days per year. The state's economy is moderately diverse, with major industries including manufacturing (especially aerospace, defense, transportation, and electronics), healthcare, real estate, tourism, technology, bioscience, agriculture (cotton, citrus), and mining (copper). While the cost of living in Arizona is generally higher than the national average, particularly for housing, the state's mild winters and opportunities for outdoor activities contribute to an appealing lifestyle for many.

1,677,947

Population

$49K

Avg Salary

105

Cost Index

56.2

Quality Score

How this 56/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 56 / 100	56.0	30%	16.8
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 105.0	37.5	25%	9.4
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $81,332 Income needed to live here: $52,974 Unemployment rate: 4%	83.5	20%	16.7
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.75% Job growth rate: 0.7%	38.9	15%	5.8
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 75 / 100	75.0	10%	7.5
Overall score				56.2

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 3 (deep think), q=89), last refreshed 18 August 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Phoenix is approximately 5% higher than the national average, primarily driven by housing expenses. While some categories like groceries are slightly above the national average, healthcare costs tend to be lower. Utilities, particularly electricity for air conditioning during the hot summers, can be a significant expense. However, the overall cost remains competitive when compared to major metropolitan areas on the West Coast, making it an attractive option for those relocating from more expensive regions.

Average Rent

$1,492/mo

Groceries

$426/mo

Transport

$64/mo

Utilities

$391/mo

Healthcare

$380/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$14.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$22.00

Monthly groceries

$426.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$150.00

Income

Salary Insights

Phoenix boasts a dynamic and growing job market, with a projected job growth rate of 0.7% in 2026 for the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region's economy is diverse, with professional and business services accounting for approximately 16% of total employment, and healthcare and social assistance close behind at 15%. Key growth sectors also include semiconductors, manufacturing, aerospace, and information technology, attracting significant investment and creating new opportunities. Phoenix is recognized as a supportive environment for small businesses and startups, ranking highly in national studies for entrepreneurial climate.

The average salary in Phoenix is $49,356 per year. You would need approximately $52,974 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Information & Technology +2.50% Healthcare and Social Assistance +2.00% Professional and Business Services +1.50% Semiconductors and Manufacturing +3.00% Aerospace and Defense +1.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

Avg Temp

☀️

Summer High

❄️

Winter Low

🌧️

Annual Rain

💧

14.00%

Humidity

🌤️

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Phoenix primarily relies on personal vehicles, with about 74.6% of residents driving alone. The average one-way commute time is approximately 26 minutes, slightly less than the national average. While the city has a walkability score of 41, indicating a car-dependent environment, specific neighborhoods like Downtown Phoenix are considerably more walkable. Public transit, managed by Valley Metro, is growing, with a transit score of 42 and increasing ridership, but it serves a smaller portion of the population compared to driving.

26 min

Avg Commute

42.00/10

Transit Score

41.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Phoenix's job market is projected to grow by 0.7% in 2026, outpacing many other regions.

The city ranks as the No. 7 most supportive city in the U.S. for small businesses as of April 2026.

Healthcare costs in Phoenix are 4% lower than the national average.

The average one-way commute time in Phoenix is 26 minutes, slightly less than the U.S. average.

Phoenix experiences abundant sunshine, averaging over 300 days per year.

Drawbacks

The cost of living in Phoenix is 5% higher than the national average, primarily due to housing expenses.

Phoenix's overall crime rate, while below the national average, still faces challenges with property crimes like auto theft.

The city has a low walkability score of 41, indicating high car dependency for most errands.

Summers in Phoenix are extremely hot, with average July highs around 105°F.

Traffic congestion in Phoenix resulted in commuters losing 76 hours in 2024, higher than the national average.

Head to Head

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Phoenix VS Grants Pass Phoenix VS Cincinnati Phoenix VS Binghamton Phoenix VS Syracuse

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Nearby Cities

Glendale

Tempe

Scottsdale

Peoria

Community Q&A

Questions about Phoenix

What people ask about living in and moving to Phoenix, Arizona.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.