Moving from Los Angeles to Phoenix
A typical worker keeps $13,750 more a year in Phoenix than in Los Angeles, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Los Angeles salary of $55,850, you'd need about $33,700 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 $13,750 more a year in Phoenix than in Los Angeles.
- Typical salary
- $55,850
- Federal income tax
- −$4,522
- Payroll taxes
- −$4,999
- State income tax
- −$1,400
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$30,696
- Everyday costs
- −$20,674
a year ($537 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.
| Los Angeles | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)9% cheaper | 113.6 | 103.3 |
| Rent, studio$924 less | $2,291 | $1,367 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$1,084 less | $2,558 | $1,474 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$1,441 less | $3,156 | $1,715 |
| Food$57 less | $526 | $469 |
| Transportation$45 less | $416 | $371 |
| Healthcare$1 less | $367 | $366 |
| Utilities$170 less | $413 | $243 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$1,358 less | $4,281 | $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 | Los Angeles | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$13,750 more | $55,850 | $51,380 |
| Registered nurse$38 less | $135,560 | $100,830 |
| Teacher$8,270 less | $101,040 | $59,704 |
| Electrician$9,229 more | $73,810 | $61,210 |
| Accountant$10,727 more | $94,360 | $80,820 |
| Software engineer$6,097 more | $160,920 | $131,750 |
| Truck driver$17,003 more | $60,340 | $59,770 |
| Nursing assistant$15,197 more | $47,380 | $45,290 |
| Medical assistant$16,119 more | $47,760 | $46,830 |
| Carpenter$7,360 more | $75,740 | $60,320 |
| Project manager$15,934 more | $108,310 | $100,780 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $55,850 (a typical Los Angeles wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Los Angeles | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $4,522 | $4,522 |
| Payroll taxes$726 less | $4,999 | $4,273 |
| State income tax$212 less | $1,400 | $1,188 |
| Local income taxNo change | $0 | $0 |
| Total$939 less | $10,921 | $9,982 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Los Angeles | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$2,983 more | $82,263 | $85,246 |
| Median home value$493,000 less | $947,900 | $454,900 |
| Unemployment rate2.6 pts lower | 6.7% | 4.1% |
| Working from home0.8 pts higher | 16% | 16.8% |
Moving to Phoenix
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix than Los Angeles?
Yes: prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the US average, against 14% above the US average in the Los Angeles area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,474 a month in Phoenix and $2,558 in Los Angeles.
How much more is rent in Los Angeles?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $1,084 a month (73.5%) higher in Los Angeles: $1,474 in Phoenix against $2,558 in Los Angeles.
How much do I need to earn in Phoenix to keep the same as in Los Angeles?
A typical worker in Los Angeles earns $55,850. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $33,700 in Phoenix.
Will I pay more tax in Phoenix?
Arizona taxes wages, and California taxes wages. On a typical Los Angeles salary of $55,850, total income and payroll taxes come to $9,982 in Phoenix and $10,921 in Los Angeles.
Do people keep more money in Phoenix or Los Angeles?
A typical worker keeps $13,750 more a year in Phoenix than in Los Angeles: $7,309 in Phoenix against −$6,441 in Los Angeles, 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