| Index | Fountain Hills | Arizona | National |
| Cost of living | 132 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 198 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 105 | 103 | 100 |
The cost of living in Fountain Hills 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 Fountain Hills is 132, which is 32% 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 Fountain Hills 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, Fountain Hills falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Fountain Hills cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 98.1% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Fountain Hills 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 Fountain Hills, the median home price is 119.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 48.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Fountain Hills come in at $129,502, which is 59.2% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Fountain Hills, the transportation index is 5% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Fountain Hills comes in at 14.1% higher than the national average.
The Fountain Hills cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $142,250 | $11,854 | $3,319 | $4,268 |
| Renters | $79,751 | $6,646 | $1,861 | $2,393 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Arizona | 5.6% | 10.725% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Arizona | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 43,334 | 93 | 7.1% |
| Mesa, AZ | 521,218 | 112 | 12.3% |
| Tempe, AZ | 197,595 | 119 | 18.6% |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 261,070 | 145 | 45.4% |
| Rio Verde, AZ | 2,388 | 163 | 62.9% |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 25,686 | 132 | 32.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Tecumseh, ON | 25,689 | n/a | |
| Decatur, GA | 25,677 | 147 | 46.8% |
| Muskego, WI | 25,672 | 115 | 15.3% |
| Paducah, KY | 25,703 | 88 | 11.6% |
| Ardmore, OK | 25,666 | 90 | 9.7% |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 25,686 | 132 | 32.3% |
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