Moving from Denver to Phoenix
A typical worker keeps $1,837 more a year in Denver than in Phoenix, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Denver salary of $62,320, you'd need about $53,700 in Phoenix.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $1,837 more a year in Denver than in Phoenix.
- Typical salary
- $62,320
- Federal income tax
- −$5,298
- Payroll taxes
- −$5,042
- State income tax
- −$2,034
- Local income tax
- −$69
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$23,076
- Everyday costs
- −$17,655
a year, or $762 a month
- Typical salary
- $51,380
- Federal income tax
- −$3,986
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,931
- State income tax
- −$1,076
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$17,688
- Everyday costs
- −$17,390
a year, or $609 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Denver | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)2.3% cheaper | 105.8 | 103.3 |
| Rent, studio$470 less | $1,837 | $1,367 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$449 less | $1,923 | $1,474 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$567 less | $2,282 | $1,715 |
| Food$29 less | $498 | $469 |
| Transportation$23 less | $394 | $371 |
| Healthcare$16 more | $350 | $366 |
| Utilities$14 more | $229 | $243 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$471 less | $3,394 | $2,923 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$1,837 less | $62,320 | $51,380 |
| Registered nurse$7,385 more | $101,130 | $100,830 |
| Teacher$5,895 less | $77,772 | $59,704 |
| Electrician$5,189 more | $63,150 | $61,210 |
| Accountant$5,465 less | $100,020 | $80,820 |
| Software engineer$4,583 more | $137,610 | $131,750 |
| Truck driver$3,503 more | $63,900 | $59,770 |
| Nursing assistant$3,396 more | $49,110 | $45,290 |
| Medical assistant$4,151 more | $49,700 | $46,830 |
| Carpenter$3,169 more | $64,910 | $60,320 |
| Project manager$2,876 less | $116,740 | $100,780 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $62,320 (a typical Denver wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Denver | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $5,298 | $5,298 |
| Payroll taxes$275 less | $5,042 | $4,767 |
| State income tax$685 less | $2,034 | $1,349 |
| Local income tax$69 less | $69 | $0 |
| Total$1,028 less | $12,443 | $11,415 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Denver | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$7,258 less | $92,504 | $85,246 |
| Median home value$181,500 less | $636,400 | $454,900 |
| Unemployment rate0.2 pts lower | 4.3% | 4.1% |
| Working from home7.9 pts lower | 24.8% | 16.8% |
Moving to Phoenix
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix than Denver?
Yes: prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the US average, against 6% above the US average in the Denver area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,474 a month in Phoenix and $1,923 in Denver.
How much more is rent in Denver?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $449 a month (30.5%) higher in Denver: $1,474 in Phoenix against $1,923 in Denver.
How much do I need to earn in Phoenix to keep the same as in Denver?
A typical worker in Denver earns $62,320. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $53,700 in Phoenix.
Will I pay more tax in Phoenix?
Arizona taxes wages, and Colorado taxes wages. On a typical Denver salary of $62,320, total income and payroll taxes come to $11,415 in Phoenix and $12,443 in Denver.
Do people keep more money in Phoenix or Denver?
A typical worker keeps $1,837 more a year in Denver than in Phoenix: $7,309 in Phoenix against $9,146 in Denver, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate