Surprise, AZ vs Tempe, AZ

Tempe is moderately more affordable than Surprise, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Surprise scores 127 compared to 120 for Tempe, 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 Surprise is $1,917/month compared to $1,623/month in Tempe — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Tempe has cheaper rent, Surprise actually has lower median home values ($396,000 vs $421,900).

Median household income in Surprise is $93,371 compared to $77,643 in Tempe (+20.3%). 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 Surprise spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, less than the 25.1% in Tempe.