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Phoenix is the capital of the southwestern United States state of Arizona. For all those students wanting to pursue their higher education here, they must understand the cost of living in Phoenix, which is famous for its huge international community, cultural diversity and much more. Over the years, it has become a global city with people from all over the world.
Apart from excellent education facilities, Phoenix offers affordable living expenses and a recreational environment for students. In this blog, we will talk about the cost of living in Phoenix and will even provide you with some insights into accommodation, cost of food and other daily living expenses.
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Cost of Living in Phoenix
The cost of living in Phoenix is 2 per cent lower than the state average and 4 per cent higher than the national average of the United States. Living in Phoenix is expensive. Therefore, before migrating to this city, it is very important for individuals to look at the expenses they will incur like apartment rent, cost of utility bills, electricity bills, food and many other expenses.
A single person’s monthly expenses are anticipated to be USD 1,126, not including rent. Phoenix is 9 % less expensive overall than New York City (excluding rent). Here in the blog let’s see all the expenses that one will have to incur:
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Cost of Transportation in Phoenix
All those students are located in the Southwest corner of the USA, Arizona borders 5 other states and Mexico. This makes it an ideal place for travel to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Diego. Travel within Phoenix is effortless using the city’s Valley Metro system, which includes:
- Railways
- Public buses
- Streetcars
This city also has one of the busiest airports in America, Phoenix Sky Harbor International which has flights coming from all over the world. The public cost of a one-way ticket in Phoenix is approximately USD 2 per km. However, we have included transportation costs in the total cost of living in Phoenix. For your better understanding, we have outlined the average cost of transportation in different ways in the table below:
| Mode of Transport | Approx Monthly Cost |
| Price of a One-way Ticket for Local Transport | USD 2.00 |
| Regular Price of Monthly Pass | USD 55.00 |
| Cost of Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | USD 2.75 |
| Cost of Taxi 1 km (Normal Tariff) | USD 1.40 |
| Cost of Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | USD 36.00 |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | USD 1.07 |
Cost of Food and Grocery Items in Phoenix
Food is one of the most important necessities, at the same time its cost varies across the entire country. Here is the list of the costs one will have to incur. Keep in mind that these processes will vary from place to place.
| Food Item | Approx Cost |
| Milk (regular), (1 litre) | USD 0.90 |
| Eggs (regular 12) | USD 3.62 |
| Fresh White Bread (500g) | USD 3.67 |
| Tomato (1 kg) | USD 4.32 |
| Potato (1 kg) | USD 3.12 |
| Onion (1 kg) | USD 2.80 |
| Local Cheese (1 kg) | USD 10.38 |
| Apples (1 kg) | USD 4.59 |
| Rice (white 1 kg) | USD 4.30 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | USD 2.43 |
| Meal, Affordable Restaurant | USD 19.99 |
| Meal for 2 People at Mid-range Restaurant of Three-course | USD 80 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | USD 10 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | USD 5.36 |
Cost of a Utility in Phoenix
Utility costs in Phoenix include electricity, water, heating, and internet services and the basic cost of utilities here is approximately USD 236 per month. The cost of utilities is already included in our cost of living in Phoenix amount. Utility costs in Detroit are provided for your convenience in the table below:
| Utility Type | Approx Monthly Cost |
| Basic Utility cost for an apartment (Heating, Electricity, Cooling, Water, and Garbage) | USD 236 |
| Monthly Mobile Phone Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | USD 69 |
| Internet Plan (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | USD 68 |
Cost of Living in Detroit vs Other Cities
Generally, the cost of living in Detroit Michigan per month is relatively affordable compared to many major metropolitan cities. For your reference, we have given the cost of living in Detroit compared to other cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Toronto, Cleveland, Houston and Seattle. So that you can understand how affordable it is to live in Phoenix for higher studies compared to other cities. Please have a look:
| Cost of living city-wise | Approx Costs | Comparison Cost of Living in Detroit |
| Cost of Living in New York | USD 1,695 | Higher than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in San Francisco | USD 1,522 | Higher than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Chicago | USD 1,298 | Higher than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Atlanta | USD 1,292 | Higher than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Dallas | USD 1,235 | Higher than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Austin | USD 1,137 | Approximately equal to Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Toronto | USD 1120 | Lower than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Cleveland | USD 1,184 | Approximately equal to Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Houston | USD 1,108 | Lower than Detroit |
| Cost of Living in Seattle | USD 1,370 | Higher than Detroit |
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Why Choose Phoenix to Study Abroad?
Phoenix is America’s 5th largest city and also the capital of Arizona. The city is a unique melting point of people and cultures. It is also known as the “Valley of the Sun”. The best part about this city is that it gets 300+ days of sunshine every year. As an international student, one will get to hang out with a lot of international students from around the world.
Speaking of which, here’s a quick view of all the essential things students should consider. This will give them an accurate idea of their lifestyle.
Things to Consider When Moving to Phoenix
When moving to Phoenix, it is important for the student to know some basic information about the place along with the cost of living in Phoenix. Here are a few things that they should consider when planning to go abroad.
- Houston is known for world-class dining, shopping, entertainment and much more. There’s definitely no shortage of budget-friendly activities such as museums, theatres, and parks.
- Houston offers some of the top-rated schools for students to pursue their higher education. With the mix of urban and suburban settings, the city is known for its competitive in-state and tuition degrees.
- The city provides its people with a reasonable cost of living.
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FAQs on Cost of living in Phoenix
Ans: The average cost of living in Phoenix is around USD 1,126 excluding rent. However, a one-bedroom apartment rent can range from USD 1200 to USD 2100. Please note that these living expenses may vary according to the area and preferences of a student.
Ans: Housing costs in Phoenix, Arizona are 24% higher than the national average, while utility costs are only 2% higher. While, the average cost of living in Phoenix is around USD 1,126 excluding rent making it very affordable compared to other cities in the US.
Ans: It’s a well-liked location for everyone, from young professionals to families to, yes, retirees, because of its pleasant climate, excellent employment possibilities, expanding population, and robust local economy.
So, this was all about the cost of living in Phoenix. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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