C
27%
Overall NAT. AVG.
15%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
67%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Chandler Arizona National
Cost of living127101100
Goods & Services115104100
Groceries103102100
Health care9894100
Housing16797100
Transportation124106100
Utilities9895100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Chandler, AZ

Understanding the cost of living in Chandler can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Chandler cost of living index is 127, which is 27% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Chandler may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Chandler falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Chandler cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 66.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Chandler, these items will cost you 15% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Chandler?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 33 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Chandler. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 61% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 39% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Chandler Affordable?

Is Chandler an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Chandler, the median home price is 75.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 45.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Chandler come in at $85,796, which is 55.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Chandler?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Chandler, the groceries index registers 2.6% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Chandler comes in at 1.6% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Chandler, the transportation index stands at 23.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Chandler, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Chandler is 27% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Chandler is 27% higher than the national average
  • Chandler housing is 67% higher than the national average
  • Arizona general sales tax is 10% higher than the national average
  • Arizona state income tax is 4% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Chandler

See all the best places to live around Chandler

Compare Chandler, AZ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$105,691$8,808$2,466$3,171
      Renters$62,938$5,245$1,468$1,888
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Chandler, AZ, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Chandler, the median monthly income is $105,691 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,466 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $62,938, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,468 on monthly rental expenses.

      Arizona Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arizona 5.6% 10.725%

      Arizona Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arizona 2.5% 2.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Chandler National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.99$24.2631.9%
      Beauty Salon $51.63$45.5613.3%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.3%
      Movie $12.43$12.132.5%
      Bowling $24.03$18.0033.5%

      Groceries

      Item Chandler National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.47$1.576.7%
      Milk $4.84$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $4.54$4.937.9%
      Pizza $13.22$12.099.3%
      Beer $11.37$10.419.2%

      Health Care

      Item Chandler National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $105.08$125.6816.4%
      Doctor $126.58$135.786.8%
      Dentist $108.47$113.294.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.93$10.652.6%
      Lipitor $529.92$468.6013.1%

      Housing

      Item Chandler National avg. Difference
      Home Price $324,500.00$184,700.0075.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,990.52$2,346.6927.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,381.00$949.0045.5%

      Transportation

      Item Chandler National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.63$59.9211.2%

      Utilities

      Item Chandler National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.37$193.990.3%
      Phone $184.32$192.254.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sweet Water Village, AZ11411110.6%
      Upper Santan Village, AZ56611110.6%
      Wet Camp Village, AZ11511110.6%
      Casa Blanca, AZ1,0099010.4%
      Sacaton, AZ2,484928.3%
      Chandler, AZ257,07612727.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lubbock, TX257,013927.7%
      Buffalo, NY255,8058614.5%
      Madison, WI258,36611514.8%
      Burnaby, BC258,827n/a 
      Scottsdale, AZ254,99513737.3%
      Chandler, AZ257,07612727.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.