City Comparison

Concord vs Tempe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Tempe

Arizona
106
Above Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$56,068
Median Income

The Verdict

9.4%

Concord is 9.4% less expensive than Tempe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $82,813 in Tempe to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
89
Concord
114
Tempe
Groceries
97
Concord
100
Tempe
Utilities
97
Concord
96
Tempe
Transportation
92
Concord
103
Tempe
Healthcare
104
Concord
95
Tempe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $82,813 in Tempe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tempe equals $67,925 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Tempe

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Tempe's 114, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $400,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,600/mo in Tempe, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 100 in Tempe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $475/month in Tempe. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 96 in Tempe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $384 in Tempe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 95 in Tempe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $86,900 in Concord and $56,068 in Tempe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $52,894 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $1,308/month in Tempe. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo fits within this budget. In Tempe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 9.4% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,813 in Tempe, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Tempe's is 114 with median homes at $400,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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