Lake Havasu City, AZ vs Surprise, AZ

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Lake Havasu City is 18.4% cheaper than Surprise. With a cost index of 104 vs 127, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Lake Havasu City to Surprise should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Havasu City is $1,269/month compared to $1,917/month in Surprise — a 34% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lake Havasu City has cheaper rent, Surprise actually has lower median home values ($396,000 vs $411,500).

Median household income in Lake Havasu City is $66,264 compared to $93,371 in Surprise (-29%). 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 Lake Havasu City spend roughly 23% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Surprise.