Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Cost of Living Comparison
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
To match your lifestyle in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, you'd need:
$142,180
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
To match your lifestyle in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, you'd need:
$35,522
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $21,055 more per year in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compared to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. You'd pay $1,327 more in taxes in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, while housing costs 89% more. The cost of living in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is 24% above avg, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is 113% above avg, making Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler feels like earning $142,180 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler ($11,297 vs $14,833 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler or San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara more expensive?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is more expensive with a cost of living index of 213.0 vs 124.3 (national average = 100).
What salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara equals $70,000 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
You would need to earn approximately $142,180 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,068 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler and $41,796 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara—housing is 89% more in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.