Cost of Living in Sedona, AZ

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sedona, AZ

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Sedona? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Sedona stands at 145, making it 45% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Sedona 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, Sedona falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Sedona 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 130.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Sedona, you can expect to pay 14.6% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

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

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 9 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Sedona. The feedback revealed that 11% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 89% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Sedona Affordable?

Is Sedona affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Sedona, the median home price is 176.6% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 24.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Sedona boasting a median household income of $57,434, 3.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sedona?

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Sedona, healthcare costs are 8.2% higher than the national average.

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 Sedona, the groceries index is 1.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Sedona cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.