Detroit, MI vs Phoenix, AZ: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Phoenix, AZ is 3.0% more expensive than Detroit, MI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Detroit works out to about $77,300 in Phoenix, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 28.0% more in Phoenix. Goods are 3.8% lower and other services 1.4% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,720 a month in Phoenix and $1,514 in Detroit, $2,472 a year more in Phoenix (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $441,000 in Phoenix and $264,000 in Detroit.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.6%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 28.0% higher in Phoenix than in Detroit
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | 103.3 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 95.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 94.7 | 121.2 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 102.6 | 104.0 |
| Category | Detroit | Phoenix | Phoenix vs Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | 103.3 | +3.0% |
| Goods | 98.8 | 95.0 | −3.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 94.7 | 121.2 | +28.0% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 93.3 | −12.8% |
| Other services | 102.6 | 104.0 | +1.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,514 | $1,720 | +13.6% |
| Typical home value | $264,000 | $441,000 | +66.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Detroit | $75,000 | $77,300 | +3.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Detroit and Phoenix has narrowed since 2008: 5.1 points then, 3.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 105.7 |
| 2009 | 100.2 | 105.4 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 102.7 |
| 2011 | 98.5 | 100.3 |
| 2012 | 97.9 | 98.7 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 99.5 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 99.1 |
| 2015 | 96.9 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 100.4 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 98.9 |
| 2018 | 97.3 | 99.6 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 98.3 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 96.4 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 96.3 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 104.7 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 103.3 |
Goods
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 105.6 |
| 2009 | 102.1 | 109.1 |
| 2010 | 100.4 | 101.2 |
| 2011 | 101.0 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 97.8 |
| 2014 | 99.5 | 98.2 |
| 2015 | 98.2 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 97.8 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 96.0 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 95.9 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 94.9 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 101.5 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 94.5 |
| 2022 | 94.7 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 98.4 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 95.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.4 | 113.7 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 107.7 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 103.0 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 95.7 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 95.7 | 101.4 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 100.6 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 104.4 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 106.4 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 111.2 |
| 2021 | 90.3 | 116.1 |
| 2022 | 94.2 | 122.8 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 124.3 |
| 2024 | 94.7 | 121.2 |
Utilities
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 100.3 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 107.2 | 106.1 |
| 2011 | 108.2 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 109.7 | 99.0 |
| 2013 | 109.6 | 98.0 |
| 2014 | 103.5 | 98.3 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 99.6 |
| 2016 | 104.3 | 95.7 |
| 2017 | 105.7 | 99.6 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 104.7 |
| 2019 | 100.7 | 92.8 |
| 2020 | 106.0 | 89.8 |
| 2021 | 102.1 | 89.9 |
| 2022 | 101.9 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 106.8 | 83.1 |
| 2024 | 107.0 | 93.3 |
Other services
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 103.3 |
| 2009 | 99.2 | 102.7 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 103.4 |
| 2011 | 97.4 | 100.0 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 98.8 | 99.2 |
| 2015 | 96.6 | 97.9 |
| 2016 | 94.9 | 102.6 |
| 2017 | 93.4 | 99.6 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 100.6 |
| 2019 | 100.0 | 102.3 |
| 2020 | 98.5 | 101.7 |
| 2021 | 98.9 | 98.3 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 103.4 |
| 2023 | 99.5 | 104.5 |
| 2024 | 102.6 | 104.0 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,720 in Phoenix vs $1,514 in Detroit
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $854 | $923 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $871 | $945 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $879 | $949 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $875 | $956 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $882 | $973 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $899 | $994 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $907 | $1,001 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $905 | $1,003 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $918 | $1,030 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $948 | $1,055 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $953 | $1,065 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $952 | $1,071 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $964 | $1,094 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $986 | $1,127 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $994 | $1,144 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $987 | $1,158 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,007 | $1,180 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,032 | $1,216 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,033 | $1,235 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,032 | $1,251 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,040 | $1,276 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,066 | $1,281 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,100 | $1,327 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,112 | $1,363 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,143 | $1,411 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,187 | $1,519 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,230 | $1,633 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,246 | $1,675 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,265 | $1,706 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,313 | $1,731 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,324 | $1,727 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,310 | $1,701 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,320 | $1,719 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,342 | $1,727 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,354 | $1,725 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,354 | $1,701 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,371 | $1,717 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,401 | $1,730 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,415 | $1,726 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,421 | $1,703 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,435 | $1,721 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,450 | $1,716 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,453 | $1,703 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,457 | $1,691 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,468 | $1,706 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,496 | $1,714 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,514 | $1,720 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $441,000 in Phoenix vs $264,000 in Detroit
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Phoenix, AZ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $124K | $209K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $128K | $214K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $219K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $133K | $226K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $136K | $232K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $139K | $234K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $141K | $238K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $144K | $241K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $148K | $245K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $152K | $249K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $154K | $254K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $157K | $258K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $162K | $263K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $165K | $268K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $168K | $274K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $169K | $278K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $174K | $283K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $177K | $286K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $178K | $289K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $179K | $295K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $182K | $305K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $184K | $312K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $321K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $194K | $339K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $204K | $358K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $214K | $388K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $217K | $417K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $217K | $438K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $226K | $463K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $236K | $493K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $234K | $490K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $231K | $465K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $231K | $447K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $235K | $448K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $240K | $456K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $242K | $460K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $245K | $463K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $250K | $466K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $251K | $463K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $253K | $461K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $256K | $456K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $257K | $451K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $260K | $446K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $262K | $446K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $264K | $447K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $264K | $443K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $264K | $441K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.