F
28%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
89%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Anthem Arizona National
Cost of living128101100
Goods & Services102104100
Groceries98102100
Health care8794100
Housing18997100
Transportation95106100
Utilities12495100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Anthem, AZ

The cost of living in Anthem affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Anthem is 128, which is 28% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Anthem is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Anthem falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Anthem, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 88.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Anthem Affordable?

Is Anthem an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Anthem, the median home price is 94.2% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 76.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Anthem come in at $102,200, which is 84.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Anthem?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Anthem, the general sales tax rate starts at 5.6%, and income tax rates begin at 2.55%.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Anthem, the housing index is 88.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Anthem displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Anthem is 28% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Anthem is 28% higher than the national average
  • Anthem housing is 89% higher than the national average
  • Arizona general sales tax is 10% higher than the national average
  • Arizona state income tax is 13% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Anthem

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Compare Anthem, AZ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$114,130$9,511$2,663$3,424
      Renters$68,700$5,725$1,603$2,061
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Anthem, AZ, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Anthem, homeowners have a median income of $114,130. Using that number, a maximum of $2,663 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $68,700, which means there is a maximum of $1,603 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Arizona Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arizona 5.6% 10.725%

      Arizona Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arizona 2.55% 2.98%

      Goods & Services

      Item Anthem National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.78$24.2610.4%
      Beauty Salon $54.44$45.5619.5%
      Toothpaste $3.44$3.707.0%
      Shampoo $1.39$1.288.3%
      Movie $9.96$12.1317.9%
      Bowling $15.56$18.0013.6%

      Groceries

      Item Anthem National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.08$5.844.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.47$1.576.6%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.1%
      Potatoes $4.66$4.935.6%
      Pizza $13.34$12.0910.4%
      Beer $11.24$10.417.9%

      Health Care

      Item Anthem National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $102.06$125.6818.8%
      Doctor $93.86$135.7830.9%
      Dentist $100.07$113.2911.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.95$10.652.8%
      Lipitor $524.80$468.6012.0%

      Housing

      Item Anthem National avg. Difference
      Home Price $358,700.00$184,700.0094.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,647.01$2,346.6955.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,675.00$949.0076.5%

      Transportation

      Item Anthem National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.66$3.465.9%
      Tire Balancing $61.78$59.923.1%

      Utilities

      Item Anthem National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $147.32$193.9924.1%
      Phone $190.63$192.250.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Deer Creek, AZ184945.6%
      Sun City West, AZ26,04311010.3%
      Surprise, AZ139,00711514.8%
      Cave Creek, AZ5,76612726.6%
      New River, AZ16,30313434.1%
      Anthem, AZ23,50812828.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Kerrville, TX23,511982.3%
      Kingsville, ON23,502n/a 
      Carteret, NJ23,50112120.8%
      Apollo Beach, FL23,48711515.3%
      Romulus, MI23,544928.4%
      Anthem, AZ23,50812828.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.