Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land vs Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

Cost of Living Comparison

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$18,876
Net Income $43,883

To match your lifestyle in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, you'd need:

$85,928

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 106.3
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler 124.3
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land $41,299
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler $31,624

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$8,626
Rent (2BR) -$22,068
Net Income $39,306

To match your lifestyle in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, you'd need:

$57,380

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $4,577 more per year in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land compared to Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler. You'd pay $1,385 more in taxes in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, while housing costs 17% more. The cost of living in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 6% above avg, while Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is 24% above avg, making Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land feels like earning $85,928 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 ($12,254 vs $11,297 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Schools
1,666
1,339
Enrollment
1,323,488
790,198
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
10.1%
27.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Institutions
79
81
In-State Tuition
$12,254
$11,297
Out-of-State
$15,961
$14,043
Grad Rate
56.7%
52.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land or Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler more expensive?

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is more expensive with a cost of living index of 124.3 vs 106.3 (national average = 100).

What salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler equals $70,000 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land?

You would need to earn approximately $85,928 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land vs Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $18,876 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and $22,068 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler—housing is 17% more in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler.