Flagstaff vs Surprise
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Flagstaff
Surprise
The Verdict
Surprise is 12.6% less expensive than Flagstaff overall. A household earning $75,000 in Flagstaff would need approximately $66,595 in Surprise 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 $66,595 in Surprise.
Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $84,466 in Flagstaff.
Living in Flagstaff vs Surprise
Housing Costs
Flagstaff's housing index of 178 is higher Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $655,000 vs $419,000. The $236,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,336 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,750/mo in Flagstaff compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Flagstaff and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Flagstaff vs $475/month in Surprise. 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 102 in Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Flagstaff vs $408 in Surprise. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Flagstaff and 97 in Surprise. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $68,000 in Flagstaff and $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,621 and $83,010 respectively. Surprise 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 $1,995/month in Surprise. In Flagstaff, median rent of $1,750/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Surprise, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 73 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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