Tempe, AZ

Yes — Tempe is about 17% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 117. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $421,900, and monthly rents average roughly $1,679. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,679, while local median household income is $77,643. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 26% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

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 $421,900, that translates to roughly $2,616 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.37% on everyday purchases.

The typical monthly rent in Tempe is around $1,679. That's about 25% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $421,900, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Tempe is valued at $421,900. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,133/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 42% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Tempe 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.

Tempe is a mid-sized city with a population of about 186,419. The median age of residents is 29.9, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 16.18%, above the national average of 12.4%.