B+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
0%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Sun City Arizona National
Cost of living106101100
Goods & Services106105100
Groceries103102100
Health care7993100
Housing10096100
Transportation107102100
Utilities139104100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Sun City, AZ

Knowing the cost of living in Sun City 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 Sun City stands at 106, marking it 6% higher than the national average.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Sun City are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Sun City can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Sun City Affordable?

Is Sun City affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Sun City, the median home price is 7.7% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 18.6% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Sun City boasting a median household income of $63,398, 22.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sun City?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Sun City, the transportation index is 7.3% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Sun City, the utilities index is 38.6% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Sun City, the groceries index is 3.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Sun City cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Sun City is 5% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Sun City is 6% higher than the national average
  • Sun City housing is equal to the national average
  • Arizona general sales tax is 10% higher than the national average
  • Arizona state income tax is 4% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Sun City

See all the best places to live around Sun City

Compare Sun City, 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$65,951$5,496$1,539$1,979
      Renters$54,517$4,543$1,272$1,636
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Sun City, AZ, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Sun City, the median monthly income is $65,951 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,539 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $54,517, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,272 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 2.5% 2.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Sun City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.35$27.629.9%
      Beauty Salon $52.19$51.112.1%
      Toothpaste $4.00$4.092.3%
      Shampoo $1.58$1.542.5%
      Movie $12.38$12.883.9%
      Yoga $30.00$19.6652.6%

      Groceries

      Item Sun City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.64$7.700.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.48$1.6611.0%
      Milk $4.87$4.732.9%
      Potatoes $4.72$5.2610.2%
      Pizza $13.72$12.767.5%
      Beer $11.40$10.558.1%

      Health Care

      Item Sun City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.39$140.068.3%
      Doctor $119.44$153.8222.3%
      Dentist $104.45$123.1515.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.93$11.731.7%
      Lipitor $13.17$23.6144.2%

      Housing

      Item Sun City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $301,436.00$326,622.007.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,144.43$2,480.2513.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,713.00$1,444.0018.6%

      Transportation

      Item Sun City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.18$3.064.0%
      Tire Balancing $75.23$65.2115.4%

      Utilities

      Item Sun City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $361.42$220.1264.2%
      Phone $190.07$195.712.9%
      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.
      Goodyear Village, AZ283918.9%
      Deer Creek, AZ189990.5%
      Youngtown, AZ7,0441054.9%
      Tolleson, AZ7,5101044.1%
      El Mirage, AZ36,7291099.2%
      Sun City, AZ39,8731066.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Issaquah, WA39,87618080.1%
      Evans, GA39,85411312.6%
      Wheeling, IL39,8511099.2%
      Wausau, WI39,8988911.1%
      Martinez, CA39,84117877.7%
      Sun City, AZ39,8731066.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.