Tired of cold drizzling weather in Seattle? Phoenix is a pleasant opposite.
Living in Seattle and tired of rain? Thinking of moving to sunny Phoenix, Arizona but wondering how far your money will go when you move? Look no further! Let’s take a moment to compare the costs of living in both cities.
To begin, the cost of food is about 5% more in Seattle. Not too bad, since Seattle has the advantage of being a major port city. Arizona has, well, significantly less oceanfront property, though you can go water skiing or houseboating on Lake Pleasant, or kayaking at Tempe Town Lake.
Transportation in Seattle also comes out to about 17% more than in Phoenix. Gas prices are a little lower, and less rain should theoretically mean less traffic, right? Seattle is 170% more densely populated than Phoenix, meaning that you’ll finally have a little room to breathe.
But the most important cost to consider is real estate. I know nothing about you, but I’m assuming that, like me, you appreciate having a place to live. Knowing this, I’m sure that you would be excited to hear that the median home cost in Phoenix is $237,700, while the median home cost in Seattle is $761,800, or 232% more. In more realistic terms, this means that when moving from Seattle, you can either have a larger house or more money in your pocket! Housing is by far the biggest expense in the typical budget, so think how far your budget could go with that much of a reduction! Or if you rent property, you may be able to get an extra bedroom or two in a nicer neighborhood and still pay less than you do now.
Overall, an average salary of $71,958 dollars per year in Seattle equates to $40,000 per year in equivalent Phoenix salary. What this means to you is that if you bring $40,000 to Phoenix, it will buy you what $71,958 did in Seattle. Talk about using your money wisely.
If you’re considering moving from Seattle to Phoenix, cost of living should be a major point to consider for you. Think about how your life could change if your money was able to go further. Phoenix is a great place to live, and dealing with a significantly lower cost of living definitely doesn’t hurt!
