Tempe vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Tempe
Vienna
The Verdict
Vienna is 20.5% less expensive than Tempe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Tempe would need approximately $62,264 in Vienna 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 Tempe has the same purchasing power as $62,264 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $90,341 in Tempe.
Living in Tempe vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Tempe's housing index of 114 is higher Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $395,000. The $5,000 difference in home prices means roughly $324 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Tempe compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Tempe and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Tempe vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Tempe and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Tempe vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in Tempe and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,068 in Tempe and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,894 and $54,545 respectively. Vienna residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,308/month to housing in Tempe vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Tempe, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Groceries, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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