Is It Affordable to Live in Phoenix, AZ?

The Short Answer

For most people, no. With an affordability score of just 34 out of 100, Phoenix is in a housing affordability crisis. The median home price of $430K requires an annual income of about $124K to buy comfortably — well above what most residents earn.

Housing Costs vs. National Average

Home prices in Phoenix are 5% above the national median of $410K. Rent is 3% above the national median of $1,500/month.

The price-to-income ratio in Phoenix is 6.9x, meaning the median home costs 6.9 times the median household income. Financial experts generally consider anything above 5x to be unaffordable.

Income You Need

To comfortably purchase the median home in Phoenix (spending no more than 28% of gross income on housing), you'd need an annual household income of approximately $124K. The median household income in Phoenix is $62K — a gap of $62K.

For renters, you'd need about $62K per year to keep rent at or below 30% of income. Currently, 32.5% of renters are cost-burdened (spending more than 30% on rent).

Market Trends

Home prices changed by 4.0% year-over-year, while rents shifted by 3.5%. The market is heating up, making affordability worse for new buyers.

Similar Cities to Compare

These cities have similar affordability profiles to Phoenix: