City Comparison

Tempe vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Tempe

Arizona
106
Above Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$56,068
Median Income

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

25.4%

Tempe is 25.4% less expensive than Yonkers overall. A household earning $75,000 in Tempe would need approximately $100,472 in Yonkers to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
114
Tempe
203
Yonkers
Groceries
100
Tempe
106
Yonkers
Utilities
96
Tempe
117
Yonkers
Transportation
103
Tempe
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
95
Tempe
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Tempe has the same purchasing power as $100,472 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $55,986 in Tempe.

Living in Tempe vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Tempe's housing index of 114 is lower Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $635,000. The $235,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,276 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Tempe compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Tempe and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Tempe vs $504/month in Yonkers. Tempe offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Tempe and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Tempe vs $468 in Yonkers. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Tempe and 107 in Yonkers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,894 and $56,761 respectively. Yonkers 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 $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Tempe, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tempe is 25.4% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 142.
A $75,000 salary in Tempe has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $100,472 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Tempe's housing index is 114 with median homes at $400,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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