Louisville, CO vs Phoenix, AZ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Phoenix, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% higher than Louisville, CO.

Louisville, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$2,450 / month
Phoenix, AZ · modeled 2BR rent
$1,750 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Louisville, CO and Phoenix, AZ using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $279/month in Phoenix, AZ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,352 in Phoenix, AZ

Regional cost estimates: Louisville, CO uses Denver, CO. Phoenix, AZ uses Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$279
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.4K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Louisville, CO

Population:20K
Cost Index:
101.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$807K

Phoenix, AZ

Population:1608K
Cost Index:
103.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$414K

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Louisville, CO

The Centennial State

20K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 20K residents.

Phoenix, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

1.6M
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Hot desert

Notable Facts

  • •Fastest growing major city
  • •Desert metropolis
  • •Spring training capital

Major Industries

TechnologyHealthcareTourismManufacturing

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Louisville, CO vs Phoenix, AZ

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Transportation
↑ 10.4%
Louisville, CO
$1,300
Phoenix, AZ
$1,436
Difference
$135
more
Housing
↑ 3.4%
Louisville, CO
$2,601
Phoenix, AZ
$2,689
Difference
$87.50
more
All Utilities
↑ 12.5%
Louisville, CO
$481
Phoenix, AZ
$541
Difference
$60.29
more
Other
↑ 2.4%
Louisville, CO
$1,579
Phoenix, AZ
$1,617
Difference
$38.57
more
Groceries
↓ 2.6%
Louisville, CO
$953
Phoenix, AZ
$929
Difference
$24.48
less
Healthcare
↓ 3.0%
Louisville, CO
$585
Phoenix, AZ
$568
Difference
$17.81
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,790
To$1,390
↓ $400
1 Bed
From$2,070
To$1,510
↓ $560
2 Bed
From$2,450
To$1,750
↓ $700
3 Bed
From$3,250
To$2,330
↓ $920
Louisville, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,070–$2,070/mo

Phoenix, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$2,380/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Louisville, CO
$7,779
Monthly in Phoenix, AZ
$279
Difference

Home Values

Louisville
Phoenix
$807K
Median Value
$414K
↓ -2.7%
YoY Change
↓ -3.1%
↑ +22.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +30.2%
$807K
Price Range
$274K - $957K

Homes in Phoenix are 49% less expensive than Louisville

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$114
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Louisville, CO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Colorado State Tax
Effective: 4.4%
$6.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.1%
$43.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,866/month
$106.4K

Phoenix, AZ

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arizona State Tax
Effective: 3.5%
$5.2K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.2%
$42.2K
Take-Home Pay
$8,979/month
$107.8K

Additional Tax Information

Louisville, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

Phoenix, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Louisville
Phoenix
55 Moderate
Air Quality
77 Moderate
35.2%
Good Air Days
9%
95 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌡
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
162 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
162 days

Before moving from Louisville, CO to Phoenix, AZ

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Phoenix, AZ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Louisville, CO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Louisville to Phoenix moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Phoenix, AZ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Louisville, CO vs Phoenix, AZ

How do the cost estimates for Louisville, CO and Phoenix, AZ compare?

Phoenix, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% higher than Louisville, CO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Louisville, CO, the model estimates $153,352 in Phoenix, AZ. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Louisville, CO and Phoenix, AZ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,450/month in Louisville, CO and $1,750/month in Phoenix, AZ. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Colorado and Arizona on TaxTakeHome.com

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