D+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
47%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Vail Arizona National
Cost of living118101100
Goods & Services109104100
Groceries105102100
Health care9094100
Housing14797100
Transportation108106100
Utilities10295100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Vail, AZ

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Vail is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Vail is 118, which is 18% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Vail 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 47.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Vail Affordable?

Is Vail 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 Vail, the median home price is 43.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 57.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Vail boasting a median household income of $103,051, 86.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Vail?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Vail comes in at 1.8% higher than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Vail, the housing index is 47.4% higher than the national average.

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.

Where is the Data From?

The Vail cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Vail Area
Search Homes for Sale in Vail, AZ

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Vail is 18% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Vail is 18% higher than the national average
  • Vail housing is 47% 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 Vail

See all the best places to live around Vail

Compare Vail, AZ Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Vail?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Vail?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Vail poll results

      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$104,059$8,672$2,428$3,122
      Renters$84,018$7,002$1,960$2,521
      The affordability of the housing market in Vail, 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 Vail homeowners, the median income is $104,059. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,428 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $84,018. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,960 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 Vail National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.15$24.2620.2%
      Beauty Salon $45.06$45.561.1%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.8%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.284.1%
      Movie $12.36$12.131.9%
      Bowling $13.68$18.0024.0%

      Groceries

      Item Vail National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.07$5.844.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.3%
      Milk $4.75$4.671.7%
      Potatoes $4.58$4.937.1%
      Pizza $12.52$12.093.6%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Vail National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $116.73$125.687.1%
      Doctor $125.31$135.787.7%
      Dentist $101.61$113.2910.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.03$10.653.6%
      Lipitor $370.51$468.6020.9%

      Housing

      Item Vail National avg. Difference
      Home Price $264,500.00$184,700.0043.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,328.25$2,346.690.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,491.00$949.0057.1%

      Transportation

      Item Vail National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.05$3.4617.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.24$59.9212.8%

      Utilities

      Item Vail National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $198.69$193.992.4%
      Phone $193.20$192.250.5%
      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.
      Summit, AZ5,0668911.1%
      Littletown, AZ645918.7%
      Pimaco Two, AZ6151010.6%
      Tucson, AZ545,3401011.1%
      Corona de Tucson, AZ9,49211515.5%
      Vail, AZ14,09911818.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Swansea, IL14,100955.1%
      Willowick, OH14,1039010.5%
      Auburn, CA14,10414444.0%
      Red Bluff, CA14,0911088.5%
      Lake Wylie, SC14,09112019.8%
      Vail, AZ14,09911818.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.