CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Phoenix
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Phoenix is slightly cheaper than Aurora — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $78,100 in Phoenix. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing17.5%
Aurora
146.9
Phoenix
121.2
🛒 Groceries5.9%
Aurora
101
Phoenix
95
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Aurora
104.4
Phoenix
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Aurora
94.5
Phoenix
98.8
Utilities+6.1%
Aurora
87.9
Phoenix
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Phoenix to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Phoenix

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9764. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Phoenix, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Aurora has 17.5% lower housing costs compared to Phoenix.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Phoenix, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
1,608,139
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareReal EstateTourismFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Phoenix, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.