City Comparison

Peoria vs Scottsdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Arizona
113
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$97,300
Median Income

Scottsdale

Arizona
123
Expensive
$580,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$92,298
Median Income

The Verdict

8.1%

Peoria is 8.1% less expensive than Scottsdale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Peoria would need approximately $81,637 in Scottsdale to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
149
Peoria
162
Scottsdale
Groceries
98
Peoria
103
Scottsdale
Utilities
106
Peoria
96
Scottsdale
Transportation
95
Peoria
103
Scottsdale
Healthcare
86
Peoria
95
Scottsdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $81,637 in Scottsdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Scottsdale equals $68,902 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs Scottsdale

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 149 is lower Scottsdale's 162, translating to median home prices of $495,000 vs $580,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Peoria compared to $2,000/mo in Scottsdale, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Peoria and 103 in Scottsdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Peoria vs $489/month in Scottsdale. 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 106 in Peoria and 96 in Scottsdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Peoria vs $384 in Scottsdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 86 in Peoria and 95 in Scottsdale. 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 $97,300 in Peoria and $92,298 in Scottsdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,106 and $75,039 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,270/month to housing in Peoria vs $2,154/month in Scottsdale. In Peoria, median rent of $1,725/mo fits within this budget. In Scottsdale, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 8.1% more affordable overall with an index of 113 vs 123.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,637 in Scottsdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 149 with median homes at $495,000, while Scottsdale's is 162 with median homes at $580,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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