Although surrounded by inhospitable desert, Phoenix is one of the largest cities in the United States, and the nation’s single largest state capital city. The area contains numerous galleries and museums, putting the people in contact with everything from the European masters to Native American craftsmanship to modern originals from Phoenix’s diverse artistic community. The Downtown cultural scene has developed into a top-notch feast of visual and performing arts, with symphony performances, live theater, and the popular First Friday exhibitions. Phoenix is also an excellent city for sports fans, being one of the few cities in America with local franchises in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Several thousand students attend the two Arizona State University campuses in the city, as well as the over-50,000 who attend the main campus in neighboring Tempe.
Rental rates for apartments average around $1000 per month, but numerous more affordable options are available all over the city, from quiet houses for rent in the suburbs to downtown efficiency apartments. Getting around Phoenix is typically done by car for most residents, but a light rail system makes it easy to get across town without a personal vehicle; Downtown and its surrounding areas are quite walkable as well.
The Phoenix skyline with mountains in the background
A lone cactus and a desert sunset
Cacti in the morning
The Maricopa County Courthouse
Architecture and palm trees
The beautiful skyline of Phoenix
As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Phoenix, AZ is $1,127 for a studio, $1,333 for one bedroom, $1,584 for two bedrooms, and $2,082 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Phoenix has decreased by -1.7% in the past year.
The cost of living in Phoenix, AZ is 4.1% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Phoenix is 15.6% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,127 - $2,082. You can expect to pay 4.0% more for groceries, 1.7% more for utilities, and 5.2% more for transportation.
Discover the best neighborhoods to rent a house in Phoenix.
Thinking about moving to Phoenix but don't want to spend a fortune? Here are the top five most affordable neighborhoods to help you stay within your budget.
Somewhat Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Some Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Vista Del Sur Traditional School
Public
Grades PK-8
875 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
860 Students
Public
Grades K-8
736 Students
Public
Grades PK-6
730 Students
Public
Grades K-8
723 Students
Vista Del Sur Traditional School
Public
Grades PK-8
875 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
860 Students
Public
Grades K-8
736 Students
Public
Grades K-8
723 Students
Public
Grades 7-12
2,375 Students
Phoenix Union Bioscience High School
Public
Grades 9-12
370 Students
Public
Grades 7-12
2,375 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,964 Students
Public
Grades 7-12
2,479 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,490 Students
3,219
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.
