Cost of Living: Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is about 2% cheaper than Denver overall.
Comparing Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ across cost of living, rent, income, and the salary needed to live comfortably. Phoenix has a lower overall price level, driven mainly by housing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 105.8 | 103.3 |
| Median rent | $1,770 | $1,458 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $1,754 | $1,583 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $2,089 | $1,839 |
| Median home value | $586,700 | $381,900 |
| Median household income | $91,681 | $77,041 |
| Salary needed (single) | $70,200 | $63,300 |
| Salary needed (family) | $109,400 | $98,100 |
Green highlights the more favorable value for each metric. Lower is better for costs; higher is better for income. Figures are estimates from public data (BEA, Census, HUD).
Which City Is More Affordable?
Overall, Phoenix is the more affordable of the two, with a cost-of-living index of 103.3 versus 105.8 for Denver. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in Denver run noticeably higher.
You can read the full breakdown for each city on its own page: cost of living in Denver and cost of living in Phoenix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Phoenix?
Phoenix is about 2% cheaper than Denver overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Phoenix: 103.3 vs Denver: 105.8).
What is the rent difference between Denver and Phoenix?
The median rent is $1,770 in Denver and $1,458 in Phoenix.
How much salary do you need in Denver vs Phoenix?
A single person needs about $70,200 in Denver and $63,300 in Phoenix to live comfortably.
Data Sources
Cost-of-living index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities). Income, rent, and home value from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-Year). Fair Market Rents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.