Seattle vs Phoenix
Seattle, WA · Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is 32% cheaper than Seattle overall.
Home Price
Seattle: $780,000
Phoenix: $420,000
Monthly Rent
Seattle: $1,800/mo
Phoenix: $1,150/mo
COL Index
Seattle: 156
Phoenix: 106
Median Income
Seattle: $102,900
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 Seattle has the same purchasing power as $67,949 in Phoenix — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Phoenix cost 46% more (-$360,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Phoenix saves you $650/month — $7,800 per year. Median rent: $1,800/mo in Seattle vs $1,150/mo in Phoenix.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Seattle owners pay roughly $7,176/year in property taxes vs $2,604/year in Phoenix. That's a $4,572 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $102,900 in Seattle and $67,600 in Phoenix. Phoenix residents earn 34% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in Seattle vs 26 minutes in Phoenix. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Seattle to Phoenix, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Seattle | Equivalent in Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $33,974 | -$16,026 |
| $75,000 | $50,962 | -$24,038 |
| $100,000 | $67,949 | -$32,051 |
| $150,000 | $101,923 | -$48,077 |
| $200,000 | $135,897 | -$64,103 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Seattle or Phoenix
Seattle Calculators
Phoenix Calculators
Related Comparisons
Seattle vs Phoenix: Common Questions
Is Seattle or Phoenix cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Phoenix is cheaper overall. Seattle has a COL index of 156 while Phoenix scores 106 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Seattle and Phoenix?
The median home price in Seattle is $780,000 vs $420,000 in Phoenix — a difference of $360,000 (46%).
What salary do I need in Phoenix to match my Seattle income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Seattle is equivalent to $67,949 in Phoenix in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Phoenix has a lower property tax rate (0.62% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,604/year vs $7,176/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.