Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Cost of Living Comparison
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
To match your lifestyle in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, you'd need:
$70,750
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:
$69,262
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,229 more per year in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos compared to Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler. You'd pay $1,385 more in taxes in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, while housing costs 1% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is 24% above avg, making Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $70,750 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler ($22,621 vs $11,297 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler more expensive?
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 124.3 (national average = 100).
What salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?
You would need to earn approximately $70,750 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $22,068 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler—housing is 1% less in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler.