Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Phoenix?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Phoenix?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Phoenix?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 5% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,127

+4% in Phoenix, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,253

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,493

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,771

+3% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$381,900

+38% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$77,041

+5% in Phoenix, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,380

+0% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

34.8 yr

+1.2 yr in Phoenix, AZ

Homeownership

54.8%

57.1%

+2.3 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

32.3%

+0.8 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

25.7 min

+1.0 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

799.6

+62% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

2,433.5

2,338.9

+4% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

75.1°F

+9.7°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

8.2 in

+31.4 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$5.57/gal

+41% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.6

+5% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$19.69

+20% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Phoenix, AZ

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Phoenix, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Phoenix, AZ

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / AZ)

6.25%

5.6%

+0.7 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Arlington vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Phoenix?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Phoenix?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).