Flagstaff, AZ vs Surprise, AZ

Flagstaff is moderately more affordable than Surprise, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. Flagstaff scores 121 compared to 127 for Surprise, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Surprise can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Flagstaff is $1,555/month compared to $1,917/month in Surprise — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Flagstaff has cheaper rent, Surprise actually has lower median home values ($396,000 vs $503,400).

Median household income in Flagstaff is $68,041 compared to $93,371 in Surprise (-27.1%). While Surprise 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, more than the 24.6% in Surprise.