CostIndexUSA

Prescott, AZ vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAZ
Prescott
98.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
AZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Prescott is moderately cheaper than Tempe — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Prescott, you would need $84,100 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+22.7%
Prescott
98.8
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.2%
Prescott
96.2
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+4.2%
Prescott
104.8
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+4.2%
Prescott
94.8
Tempe
98.8
Utilities+2.0%
Prescott
91.5
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$84,100
$4,100 more needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 1.0509. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Prescott, AZ

Median Home Price
$405,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Tempe, AZ

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

Tempe has 22.7% higher housing costs compared to Prescott.

Income & Job Market

Prescott, AZ

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
45,827
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismRetailGovernmentReal Estate

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Prescott, AZ
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Tempe, 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.