Here’s the Living Wage a Single Person Needs To Live Comfortably in Arizona
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Nicholas Morine
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If you’re looking to make the move to Arizona, you may be surprised how much it’ll cost you.
According to the Arizona Republic, “A household income of just over $100,000 is barely enough to be considered lower middle class in some Arizona cities.” A SmartAsset study found an annual household income of about $235,000 is needed to live comfortably in most major cities in Arizona (if the household is comprised of two working adults plus children).
The study looked at 99 of the largest cities in the United States based on the 50/30/20 budget rule. It recommended that for sustainable comfort, 50% of your salary should go to needs such as housing and groceries, 30% toward wants and 20% toward paying off your debts while saving.
The study found a single person needs to make about $96,500, on average, to have long-standing comfort in a major city in the U.S. That means living without the pressure of going paycheck to paycheck, paying off debt and saving for the future.
Tucson Could Be a Bit Cheaper Than Other Arizona Cities
You won’t need quite that much to live comfortably in Tucson — which ranks as the major Arizona city with the lowest salary needed for that comfort. A single adult in Tucson needs an annual salary around $84,000 to live comfortably.
However, you’re going to need more if you want to live in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa or Chandler. In fact, the study found a single adult needs an annual salary of more than $102,000 to live comfortably in these areas. It’s nearly the same amount if you want to live in Gilbert or Glendale.
Here’s something to keep in mind with these kinds of studies — they are generally very broad in nature. So, if you find a good deal on a house or apartment and keep your spending in check, you’re likely able to live comfortably in many cities in Arizona.
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