Buckeye, AZ vs Tempe, AZ

Buckeye, AZ and Tempe, AZ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Buckeye scores 121 while Tempe scores 120 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Buckeye is $1,742/month compared to $1,623/month in Tempe — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Tempe has cheaper rent, Buckeye actually has lower median home values ($384,100 vs $421,900).

Median household income in Buckeye is $98,778 compared to $77,643 in Tempe (+27.2%). While Buckeye is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buckeye spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.1% in Tempe.