Flagstaff vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Flagstaff
Lakewood
The Verdict
Flagstaff is 12.8% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Flagstaff would need approximately $85,991 in Lakewood to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Flagstaff has the same purchasing power as $85,991 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $65,414 in Flagstaff.
Living in Flagstaff vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Flagstaff's housing index of 178 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $655,000 vs $574,000. The $81,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,268 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,750/mo in Flagstaff compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Flagstaff and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Flagstaff vs $480/month in Lakewood. 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 92 in Flagstaff and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Flagstaff vs $340 in Lakewood. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Flagstaff and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $68,000 in Flagstaff and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,621 and $63,008 respectively. Lakewood residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,587/month to housing in Flagstaff vs $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Flagstaff, median rent of $1,750/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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