Flagstaff, AZ vs Sun City West, AZ

Flagstaff, AZ and Sun City West, AZ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.3% difference in their overall index. Flagstaff scores 121 while Sun City West scores 116 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 Flagstaff is $1,555/month compared to $1,658/month in Sun City West — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Flagstaff has cheaper rent, Sun City West actually has lower median home values ($350,500 vs $503,400).

Median household income in Flagstaff is $68,041 compared to $63,792 in Sun City West (+6.7%). While Flagstaff is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Flagstaff spend roughly 27.4% of their income on rent, less than the 31.2% in Sun City West. The Flagstaff ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.