Denver vs Phoenix
Denver, CO · Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is 12% cheaper than Denver overall.
Home Price
Denver: $565,000
Phoenix: $420,000
Monthly Rent
Denver: $1,395/mo
Phoenix: $1,150/mo
COL Index
Denver: 121
Phoenix: 106
Median Income
Denver: $85,200
Phoenix: $67,600
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Denver has the same purchasing power as $87,603 in Phoenix — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Phoenix cost 26% more (-$145,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Phoenix saves you $245/month — $2,940 per year. Median rent: $1,395/mo in Denver vs $1,150/mo in Phoenix.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Denver owners pay roughly $3,108/year in property taxes vs $2,604/year in Phoenix. That's a $504 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $85,200 in Denver and $67,600 in Phoenix. Phoenix residents earn 21% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Denver vs 26 minutes in Phoenix. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Denver to Phoenix, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Denver | Equivalent in Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,802 | -$6,198 |
| $75,000 | $65,702 | -$9,298 |
| $100,000 | $87,603 | -$12,397 |
| $150,000 | $131,405 | -$18,595 |
| $200,000 | $175,207 | -$24,793 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Denver Calculators
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Denver vs Phoenix: Common Questions
Is Denver or Phoenix cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Phoenix is cheaper overall. Denver has a COL index of 121 while Phoenix scores 106 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Denver and Phoenix?
The median home price in Denver is $565,000 vs $420,000 in Phoenix — a difference of $145,000 (26%).
What salary do I need in Phoenix to match my Denver income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Denver is equivalent to $87,603 in Phoenix in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Denver has a lower property tax rate (0.55% vs 0.62%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,604/year vs $3,108/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.