| Index | Scottsdale | Arizona | National |
| Cost of living | 145 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 242 | 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 |
Knowing the cost of living in Scottsdale allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Scottsdale stands at 145, marking it 45% higher than the national average.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Scottsdale may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Scottsdale falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Scottsdale, 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 141.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 17 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Scottsdale. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 82% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 18% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale, the median home price is 179.2% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 54.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Scottsdale come in at $136,683, which is 68.1% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Scottsdale, the transportation index is 5% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Scottsdale, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.6%, and the income tax rates commence at 2.5%.
The Scottsdale cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as 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 | $162,864 | $13,572 | $3,800 | $4,886 |
| Renters | $100,138 | $8,345 | $2,336 | $3,004 |
| 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. |
| Komatke, AZ | 903 | 95 | 4.9% |
| Guadalupe, AZ | 6,820 | 97 | 3.5% |
| Deer Creek, AZ | 189 | 96 | 4.2% |
| Maricopa Colony, AZ | 836 | 98 | 1.6% |
| Mesa, AZ | 521,218 | 112 | 12.3% |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 261,070 | 145 | 45.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Buffalo, NY | 262,656 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Kitchener, ON | 259,162 | n/a | |
| Burnaby, BC | 258,827 | n/a | |
| Reno, NV | 258,532 | 126 | 25.7% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | 256,144 | 114 | 13.7% |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 261,070 | 145 | 45.4% |
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