CostIndexUSA

Riverside, CA vs Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Scottsdale is slightly cheaper than Riverside — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Riverside, you would need $77,700 in Scottsdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.3%
Riverside
129.3
Scottsdale
121.2
🛒 Groceries6.3%
Riverside
101.4
Scottsdale
95
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Riverside
106.3
Scottsdale
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+2.7%
Riverside
96.2
Scottsdale
98.8
Utilities37.2%
Riverside
148.6
Scottsdale
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scottsdale, AZ
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Scottsdale

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 0.9709. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Scottsdale, AZ

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

Riverside has 6.3% lower housing costs compared to Scottsdale.

Income & Job Market

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

Affordability at a Glance

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

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Scottsdale, 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.