B-
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
44%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Surprise Arizona National
Cost of living115101100
Goods & Services102104100
Groceries98102100
Health care8794100
Housing14497100
Transportation95106100
Utilities12495100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Surprise, AZ

Understanding the cost of living in Surprise can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Surprise cost of living index is 115, which is 15% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Surprise cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 43.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Surprise?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 16 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Surprise. The results indicated that 38% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 63% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Surprise Affordable?

Is Surprise affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Surprise, the median home price is 40.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 52.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Surprise boasting a median household income of $71,192, 28.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Surprise?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Surprise, the groceries index is 1.7% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Surprise, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.6%, and the income tax rates commence at 2.55%.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Surprise displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Surprise is 14% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Surprise is 15% higher than the national average
  • Surprise housing is 44% higher than the national average
  • Arizona general sales tax is 10% higher than the national average
  • Arizona state income tax is 4% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Surprise

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Compare Surprise, AZ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$74,735$6,228$1,744$2,242
      Renters$61,036$5,086$1,424$1,831
      The affordability of the housing market in Surprise, AZ as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Surprise homeowners, the median income is $74,735. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,744 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $61,036. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,424 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Arizona Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arizona 5.6% 10.725%

      Arizona Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arizona 2.5% 2.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Surprise National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.78$24.2610.4%
      Beauty Salon $54.44$45.5619.5%
      Toothpaste $3.44$3.707.0%
      Shampoo $1.39$1.288.3%
      Movie $9.96$12.1317.9%
      Bowling $15.56$18.0013.6%

      Groceries

      Item Surprise National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.08$5.844.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.47$1.576.6%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.1%
      Potatoes $4.66$4.935.6%
      Pizza $13.34$12.0910.4%
      Beer $11.24$10.417.9%

      Health Care

      Item Surprise National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $102.06$125.6818.8%
      Doctor $93.86$135.7830.9%
      Dentist $100.07$113.2911.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.95$10.652.8%
      Lipitor $524.80$468.6012.0%

      Housing

      Item Surprise National avg. Difference
      Home Price $258,700.00$184,700.0040.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,647.01$2,346.6955.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,443.00$949.0052.1%

      Transportation

      Item Surprise National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.66$3.465.9%
      Tire Balancing $61.78$59.923.1%

      Utilities

      Item Surprise National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $147.32$193.9924.1%
      Phone $190.63$192.250.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Goodyear Village, AZ2778613.9%
      Deer Creek, AZ184945.6%
      Youngtown, AZ6,8371000.3%
      Sun City, AZ38,8881021.9%
      Tolleson, AZ7,3401000.2%
      Surprise, AZ139,00711514.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Roseville, CA138,86014847.8%
      Olathe, KS139,2161054.8%
      Trois-Rivières, QC138,766n/a 
      Orange, CA139,32217272.4%
      Metairie, LA138,5111055.1%
      Surprise, AZ139,00711514.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.