Lowell vs Phoenix
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Lowell
Phoenix
💡 The Verdict
Phoenix is 26% cheaper than Lowell overall. A $75,000 salary in Lowell is equivalent to $55,556 in Phoenix.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Lowell (left) vs Phoenix (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Lowell versus Phoenix. Differences shown from Lowell perspective.
| Item | Lowell | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,280/mo | $1,000/mo | +$280.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,900/mo | $1,400/mo | +$500.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,460/mo | $1,860/mo | +$600.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $4.04 | $2.60 | +$1.44 |
| Milk (gallon) | $5.13 | $3.75 | +$1.38 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.50 | $3.26 | +$1.24 |
| Coffee (latte) | $7.35 | $6.48 | +$0.87 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.88 | $3.31 | +$0.57 |
| Restaurant Meal | $20.26 | $15.67 | +$4.59 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Lowell has the same purchasing power as $55,556 in Phoenix.
Conversely, $75,000 in Phoenix equals $101,250 in Lowell.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1875 difference is driven by Massachusetts having a higher state income tax rate. Massachusetts details → · Arizona details →
Reading These Numbers: Lowell (135) vs Phoenix (100)
Lowell at 135 is 35% above the US average, while Phoenix at 100 is 0% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Lowell, the composite index of 135 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 121, followed by groceries (134), utilities (126), transportation (131), and healthcare (131). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,900/mo in Lowell and $1,400/mo in Phoenix, the annual rent difference is approximately $6,000.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $30,000.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $34,000.0 difference in median home prices between Lowell and Phoenix translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Lowell vs Phoenix
Choosing between Lowell and Phoenix involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Lowell against Phoenix, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.