What a $60,000 Salary Can Get You in Different Arizona Cities

Arizona’s growing popularity has also helped to attract many new businesses and large corporations. This, in turn, has helped to increase the number of good job opportunities across the state. Salaries have also been on the rise, while the total cost of living remains pretty stable.

So, we wanted to find out exactly how far your money could stretch among the different cities across Arizona and see what kind of lifestyle you could enjoy with the same amount of money. We chose an annual salary of $60,000 to compare with, which is around the average median household income for the state.

We also wanted to choose some big cities to compare against in this study so that we had enough data to make an informed estimate on the cost of living in those areas. Therefore, we chose the following cities:

• Phoenix
• Tucson
• Mesa
• Scottsdale
• Flagstaff
• Prescott
• Yuma

We also wanted to standardize our analysis, so we created the following persona with these type of expenses:

• Family size – 2 adults
• Housing: 1 bedroom rental
• Groceries & Restaurants
• Transportation
• Utilities
• Healthcare
• Entertainment & Miscellaneous

We will breakdown the costs on a monthly basis, so we also need to figure out the monthly salary. We will assume that taxes are roughly the same across the state. Using the SmartAsset tax calculator, we find that a family of 2 that makes $60,000 total while filing as a married couple will take home $50,669. If we divide that number by 12, we get a total of $4,222 per month to spend.

We will also use the national averages that the Census calculated for monthly costs for each category. For each city, we used the averages provided by BestPlaces and AreaVibes.

Let’s see the type and quality of life you can live in Arizona on $60,000 in some of the most popular cities in the state.

$60,000 in Arizona – Breakdown by City

Phoenix

Let’s start with the capital city of Arizona. It is also the largest city in the state and has been experiencing tremendous growth over the last decade. It also captured 6th place on our most recent list of the best cities in Arizona for 2022.

The biggest expenses in Phoenix are its housing costs, which are about 3% higher than the national average, and transportation, which costs about 17% more than the rest of the US. Overall, a couple that rakes in $60,000 a year can expect to be able to live comfortably and even save about $300 each month here.

Tucson

Next, we have Tucson, which is the 2nd largest city in Arizona. It offers a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere and is known for being quite affordable. Let’s see if that is really true still. Here are the average costs for 2 people living in Tucson:

Virtually every cost in Tucson is lower or the same as the national average. As a result, the same $60,000 salary goes a bit further here than in Phoenix, for example. A couple living here could actually enjoy the same lifestyle and save about 3 times more money each month.

It’s not a bad place to live, either, as we ranked Tucson #3 on our review of the best places to live in Arizona.

Mesa

We wanted to take a look at the cost of living in Mesa since it is a suburb of Phoenix, but offers many of the same amenities, as well as the opportunity to easily reach Phoenix as well. What if you made $60k in Mesa? Would your money go further than in the big city? Let’s find out:

Mesa does prove to be a more affordable option than Phoenix, although not by much. Housing costs are still relatively high here, as are transportation costs. So, it really comes down to the lifestyle that you are looking for when you compare Downtown Phoenix to one of its suburbs.

Scottsdale

Scottsdale is known as being one of the most affluent suburbs of Phoenix, and therefore, also one of the most expensive places to live in the state. Do the numbers reflect this reputation?

A family of 2 people making $60,000 would actually not have enough money at the end of the month here. The biggest spend in Scottsdale is used on housing, which costs more than double the national average.

Flagstaff

Now, we head up north to see what the cost of living looks like outside of the Phoenix and Tucson area. Flagstaff is home to over 70,000 people and offers its residents four distinct seasons, which is quite different from the hot and airy desert climate of the cities in the south.

It comes out to be a bit cheaper than Phoenix, but not by much. While transportation costs are pretty low compared to the other cities, housing costs are one of the highest in the state.

Still, $60,000 could allow you to live well and still save almost $400 each month according to this budget.

Prescott

Prescott is a city in central Arizona that is known for its lively and historic downtown as well as its easy access to the beautiful natural scenes that surround it. How much does this city cost?

The cost of living in Prescott is generally in line with Flagstaff. The housing costs are lower, but most of the other expenses are a bit higher.

Yuma

Yuma is probably best known for the U.S. Army’s presence around the city. Its proving grounds are located in the outskirts of the city and are home to over 3,000 military personnel. The city is also known as being quite affordable.

The numbers prove that Yuma is in fact pretty cheap compared to the rest of Arizona. It is the most affordable city on this list and $60,000 would allow you to live well and save almost $900 a month.

Summary

We are sure you will be able to find a good place to live among Arizona’s diverse cities. Depending on your salary and your budgeting skills, you can see how far your money can go in some of the most popular cities. 

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