Sedona, AZ vs Fountain Hills, AZ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fountain Hills, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 16.9% higher than Sedona, AZ.

Sedona, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $1,905 / month
Fountain Hills, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,080 / 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 Sedona, AZ and Fountain Hills, 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

Current salary in Sedona, AZ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,098/month in Fountain Hills, AZ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,181 in Fountain Hills, AZ

Regional cost estimates: Sedona, AZ uses Scottsdale, AZ. Fountain Hills, AZ uses Scottsdale, AZ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 16.9%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,098

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$13.2K

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.

Sedona, AZ

Population:10K

Cost Index:

101.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$878K

Fountain Hills, AZ

Population:24K

Cost Index:

118.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$663K

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Sedona, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Fountain Hills, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sedona, AZ vs Fountain Hills, 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.

Category	Sedona, AZ	Fountain Hills, AZ	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,737/mo	$3,198/mo	↑ $462more	16.9%
Other	$1,644/mo	$1,921/mo	↑ $277more	16.9%
Transportation	$1,218/mo	$1,424/mo	↑ $205more	16.9%
Groceries	$871/mo	$941/mo	↑ $70.58more	8.1%
Healthcare	$534/mo	$578/mo	↑ $43.31more	8.1%
All Utilities	$496/mo	$536/mo	↑ $40.20more	8.1%

Housing

↑ 16.9%

Sedona, AZ

$2,737

Fountain Hills, AZ

$3,198

Difference

$462

Other

↑ 16.9%

Sedona, AZ

$1,644

Fountain Hills, AZ

$1,921

Difference

$277

Transportation

↑ 16.9%

Sedona, AZ

$1,218

Fountain Hills, AZ

$1,424

Difference

$205

Groceries

↑ 8.1%

Sedona, AZ

$871

Fountain Hills, AZ

$941

Difference

$70.58

Healthcare

↑ 8.1%

Sedona, AZ

$534

Fountain Hills, AZ

$578

Difference

$43.31

All Utilities

↑ 8.1%

Sedona, AZ

$496

Fountain Hills, AZ

$536

Difference

$40.20

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,370

To$1,650

↑ $280

1 Bed

From$1,545

To$1,790

↑ $245

2 Bed

From$1,905

To$2,080

↑ $175

3 Bed

From$2,605

To$2,770

↑ $165

Sedona, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,540–$1,550/mo

Fountain Hills, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,790–$1,790/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 Sedona, AZ

$8,598

Monthly in Fountain Hills, AZ

$1,098

Difference

Home Values

Sedona

Fountain Hills

$878K

Median Value

$663K

↓ -2.4%

YoY Change

↑ +0.8%

↑ +45.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.4%

$780K - $975K

Price Range

$663K

Homes in Fountain Hills are 24% less expensive than Sedona

Calculate payment - Sedona Calculate payment - Fountain Hills

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Sedona, 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

Fountain Hills, 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

Sedona, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%

Property Tax:0.6%

Fountain Hills, 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.

Environment

Sedona

Fountain Hills

77 Moderate

Air Quality

77 Moderate

Good Air Days

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

161 days

Heat Days >95°F

161 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

161 days

Heat Days >95°F

161 days

Before moving from Sedona, AZ to Fountain Hills, AZ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fountain Hills, AZ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sedona, AZ. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Sedona to Fountain Hills moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sedona, AZ vs Fountain Hills, AZ

How do the cost estimates for Sedona, AZ and Fountain Hills, AZ compare?

Fountain Hills, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 16.9% higher than Sedona, AZ. 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 Sedona, AZ, the model estimates $163,181 in Fountain Hills, 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 Sedona, AZ and Fountain Hills, AZ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,905/month in Sedona, AZ and $2,080/month in Fountain Hills, 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.