D
34%
Overall NAT. AVG.
15%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
90%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Queen Creek Arizona National
Cost of living134101100
Goods & Services115104100
Groceries103102100
Health care9894100
Housing19097100
Transportation124106100
Utilities9895100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Queen Creek, AZ

Understanding the cost of living in Queen Creek can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Queen Creek cost of living index is 134, which is 34% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Queen Creek is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Queen Creek falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Queen Creek cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 89.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Queen Creek, these items will cost you 15% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Queen Creek?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 12 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Queen Creek. The feedback revealed that 42% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 58% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Queen Creek Affordable?

Is Queen Creek 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 Queen Creek, the median home price is 97% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 72.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Queen Creek come in at $104,161, which is 88.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Queen Creek?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Queen Creek, the groceries index registers 2.6% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Queen Creek, healthcare costs are 2.4% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including 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 offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Queen Creek 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Queen Creek Area
Search Homes for Sale in Queen Creek, AZ

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Queen Creek is 34% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Queen Creek is 34% higher than the national average
  • Queen Creek housing is 90% 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 Queen Creek

See all the best places to live around Queen Creek

Compare Queen Creek, AZ Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Queen Creek?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Queen Creek?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Queen Creek poll results

      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$110,333$9,194$2,574$3,310
      Renters$63,380$5,282$1,479$1,902
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Queen Creek, AZ, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Queen Creek have a median income of $110,333. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,574 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $63,380, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,479.

      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 Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.99$24.2631.9%
      Beauty Salon $51.63$45.5613.3%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.3%
      Movie $12.43$12.132.5%
      Bowling $24.03$18.0033.5%

      Groceries

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.47$1.576.7%
      Milk $4.84$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $4.54$4.937.9%
      Pizza $13.22$12.099.3%
      Beer $11.37$10.419.2%

      Health Care

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $105.08$125.6816.4%
      Doctor $126.58$135.786.8%
      Dentist $108.47$113.294.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.93$10.652.6%
      Lipitor $529.92$468.6013.1%

      Housing

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Home Price $363,800.00$184,700.0097.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,990.52$2,346.6927.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,640.00$949.0072.8%

      Transportation

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.63$59.9211.2%

      Utilities

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.37$193.990.3%
      Phone $184.32$192.254.1%
      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.
      Sweet Water Village, AZ11411110.6%
      Upper Santan Village, AZ56611110.6%
      Wet Camp Village, AZ11511110.6%
      Sacaton Flats Village, AZ48611110.6%
      Sacaton, AZ2,484928.3%
      Queen Creek, AZ52,16213434.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mascouche, QC52,212n/a 
      Edina, MN52,21513838.0%
      Oak Park, IL52,10213030.1%
      Bentonville, AR52,0701077.2%
      Placentia, CA52,04916969.3%
      Queen Creek, AZ52,16213434.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.