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City Housing Verdict

Sun City, AZ

High Pressure

The cost of living in Sun City, AZ is right at the national average (Cost Index: 100). Homes here are typically valued around $299,822, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $52,111 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Sun City already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 34% rent burden, 5.8x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 99. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Sun City.

Monthly Housing
$1,457/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
34%
Stretch
Residual Cash
$2,386/mo
After housing and debt · $795/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 45%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
100
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$299,822
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $259,800
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,457/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$52,111
National: $78,538
Population
38,018
Purchasing Power
66
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
99 / 100
Close to average
Rent Index
108 / 100
8% above average
Goods & Groceries
95 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
93 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
104 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
100
Average

Sun City Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $299,822 and Arizona's property tax rate of 0.62%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$52,111
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
34%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Sun City looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Sun City, AZ

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,859
Monthly Impact
$155
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.62%
National avg: ~1.00%

Arizona Place Tax Context

Tax TypeArizonaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.62%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate2.5%~5.0%
State Sales Tax8.37%~5.0%

Compare Sun City to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Sun City, AZ
100
108
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Sun City, AZ: 99
Rent Prices
108

FAQ: Living in Sun City

What is the cost of living like in Sun City, AZ?+

Living costs in Sun City land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 100 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $299,822, and typical monthly rents run around $1,457. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.

How does Sun City fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,457, while local median household income is $52,111. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 34% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Sun City, AZ?+

Arizona has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 2.5%. The effective property tax rate is 0.62%. On a home worth $299,822, that translates to roughly $1,859 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.37% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Sun City, AZ?+

The typical monthly rent in Sun City is around $1,457. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $299,822, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Sun City, AZ?+

The median home in Sun City is valued at $299,822. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,516/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 83% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Sun City?+

Grocery prices in Sun City are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 95, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 93). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Sun City, AZ like to live in?+

Sun City is a smaller city with a population of about 38,018. The median age of residents is 72.5, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 11.68%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Arizona

If Sun City feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Arizona

Use these city pages when you want to compare Sun City against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly