F
30%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
95%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Queen Creek Arizona National
Cost of living130101100
Goods & Services100105100
Groceries103102100
Health care9693100
Housing19596100
Transportation109102100
Utilities106104100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Queen Creek, AZ

Knowing the cost of living in Queen Creek allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Queen Creek stands at 130, marking it 30% higher than the national average.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Queen Creek is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Queen Creek falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Queen Creek cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 94.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Queen Creek?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 14 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Queen Creek. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 43% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 57% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Queen Creek Affordable?

Wondering if Queen Creek is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Queen Creek, for example, the median home price is 105.5% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 70.3% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Queen Creek boasting a median household income of $158,014, which is 94.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Queen Creek?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Queen Creek, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.6%, and the income tax rates commence at 2.5%.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Queen Creek, the groceries index is 2.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Queen Creek, 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Queen Creek is 29% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Queen Creek is 30% higher than the national average
  • Queen Creek housing is 95% 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 Queen Creek

See all the best places to live around Queen Creek

Compare Queen Creek, AZ Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Queen Creek?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Queen Creek?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Queen Creek poll results

      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$163,891$13,658$3,824$4,917
      Renters$93,289$7,774$2,177$2,799
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Queen Creek, AZ, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Queen Creek have a median income of $163,891. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $3,824 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $93,289, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $2,177.

      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 Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Haircut $33.10$27.6219.9%
      Beauty Salon $62.61$51.1122.5%
      Toothpaste $4.01$4.092.0%
      Shampoo $1.57$1.541.8%
      Movie $11.13$12.8813.6%
      Yoga $21.66$19.6610.2%

      Groceries

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.61$7.701.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.48$1.6611.0%
      Milk $4.87$4.732.9%
      Potatoes $4.72$5.2610.2%
      Pizza $13.21$12.763.5%
      Beer $11.40$10.558.1%

      Health Care

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.02$140.061.5%
      Doctor $141.07$153.828.3%
      Dentist $137.92$123.1512.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.86$11.731.1%
      Lipitor $15.57$23.6134.1%

      Housing

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Home Price $671,112.00$326,622.00105.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,777.31$2,480.2512.0%
      Apartment Rent $2,459.00$1,444.0070.3%

      Transportation

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.34$3.069.2%
      Tire Balancing $70.48$65.218.1%

      Utilities

      Item Queen Creek National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $245.41$220.1211.5%
      Phone $190.07$195.712.9%
      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.
      Wet Camp Village, AZ1191032.5%
      Sacaton Flats Village, AZ4981032.5%
      Sweet Water Village, AZ1181032.5%
      Upper Santan Village, AZ5871032.5%
      Sacaton, AZ2,5638613.5%
      Queen Creek, AZ53,58513030.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Placentia, CA53,64917676.1%
      Perth Amboy, NJ53,48011818.0%
      Bentonville, AR53,4011087.9%
      Elkhart, IN53,8088812.0%
      Brandon, MB53,334n/a 
      Queen Creek, AZ53,58513030.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.