This Phoenix Suburb Has the Highest Cost of Living in Arizona

You may have read our recent article on people from California pulling up stakes in their state and transplanting to Arizona. California is such a different lifestyle, many have found they're in for a rude awakening as they settle in here.

Even in Arizona, there are places with diverse income levels. No matter where you're moving to, one of the many factors to consider when you're planning to put down new roots is the cost of living.

Trading Affordability for Convenience

Factoring in the cost of putting food on the table, keeping a roof over your head, plus all the daily expenses, Arizona is pretty good overall at making life affordable.

I live a in fairly rural part of Arizona. We don't have some of the conveniences you might expect to find in bigger cities, but affordability is a nice trade-off. Making ends meet is high on my list of reasons I live here.

Phoenix and the Higher Cost of Living

It's no secret life in the big city is more expensive. Tucson in Pima County and Phoenix in Maricopa County are two of the largest Metropolitan areas in the state of Arizona.

If you've been to Scottsdale recently, you might have noticed it's beginning to take on more of a West Coast persona. High-end car dealerships and restaurants have replaced some of the old west charm.

The Most Expensive City in Arizona

As much as it's changed over the years, I was surprised to discover Scottsdale is not the most expensive Arizona hamlet to live in.

The city in Arizona with the highest cost of living is Paradise Valley, a small Phoenix suburb. The average cost of living in Paradise Valley is 229.3% higher than even the national average.

The Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps lives in Paradise Valley with his family. Other celebrities who've put down roots in Paradise Valley include Alicia Keys, Alice Cooper, and Emma Stone.

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