CostIndexUSA

Pensacola, FL vs Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Pensacola
97.7
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
AZ
Phoenix
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Pensacola is moderately cheaper than Phoenix — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pensacola, you would need $84,600 in Phoenix. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+22.7%
Pensacola
98.8
Phoenix
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.2%
Pensacola
96.2
Phoenix
95
🚗 Transportation+5.2%
Pensacola
103.8
Phoenix
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.2%
Pensacola
93.9
Phoenix
98.8
Utilities+5.4%
Pensacola
88.5
Phoenix
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$84,600
$4,600 more needed in Phoenix

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 97.7) = salary × 1.0573. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pensacola, FL

Median Home Price
$300,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Phoenix, AZ

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

Phoenix has 22.7% higher housing costs compared to Pensacola.

Income & Job Market

Pensacola, FL

Median Household Income
$78,300
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
53,831
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

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).

Pensacola, FL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.