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Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Washington vs Phoenix

Phoenix is 5.1% less expensive than Washington. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
108.9
Overall RPP
104.8
Goods
106.7
Services
151.1
Rents
Metro B
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
103.3
Overall RPP
95.0
Goods
93.3
Services
121.2
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Washington Phoenix Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 108.9 103.3 -5.6
Goods 104.8 95.0 -9.8
Services 106.7 93.3 -13.4
Rents/Housing 151.1 121.2 -29.9

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost Lower than Washington
Washington
108.9
Phoenix
103.3
Goods Lower than Washington
Washington
104.8
Phoenix
95.0
Services Lower than Washington
Washington
106.7
Phoenix
93.3
Rents/Housing Lower than Washington
Washington
151.1
Phoenix
121.2

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Phoenix to match your purchasing power in Washington:

Salary in Washington Equivalent in Phoenix Difference
$50,000 $47,443 $2,557
$75,000 $71,165 $3,835
$100,000 $94,886 $5,114
$150,000 $142,329 $7,671

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Washington Phoenix
Population 6,263,796 4,941,206
Median Household Income $123,896 $84,703
Data Year 2024 2024
State DC AZ

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Washington is 5.6 points cheaper than Phoenix (108.9 vs 103.3).

Goods: Washington is 9.8 points cheaper than Phoenix (104.8 vs 95.0).

Services: Washington is 13.4 points cheaper than Phoenix (106.7 vs 93.3).

Rents/Housing: Washington is 29.9 points cheaper than Phoenix (151.1 vs 121.2).

⇆ Reverse comparison Washington details → Phoenix details →

Also Compare Washington With

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phoenix more expensive than Washington? ▼
Phoenix is 5.1% less expensive than Washington. The overall cost index is 103.3 vs 108.9 (national average = 100).
What salary in Phoenix is equivalent to $100K in Washington? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Washington has the same purchasing power as $94,886 in Phoenix, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Washington and Phoenix? ▼
Housing/rents in Washington are indexed at 151.1 while Phoenix is at 121.2 (national average = 100). Washington has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Washington or Phoenix? ▼
Washington is larger by population. Washington has 6,263,796 residents vs 4,941,206 in Phoenix.

Explore More Data

Salary Calculator → Cost Rankings → All Metros → Rent Data → Salary Data → Relocation Guide →

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100