Tempe, AZ vs Surprise, AZ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Surprise, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Tempe, AZ.

Tempe, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,045 / month
Surprise, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,190 / 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 Tempe, AZ and Surprise, 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 Tempe, AZ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $329/month in Surprise, AZ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,053 in Surprise, AZ

Regional cost estimates: Tempe, AZ uses Chandler, AZ. Surprise, AZ uses Glendale, AZ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$329

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.9K

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.

Tempe, AZ

Population:190K

Cost Index:

106.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$452K

Surprise, AZ

Population:158K

Cost Index:

101.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$385K

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Tempe, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

190K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 190K residents.

Surprise, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

158K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 158K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Tempe, AZ vs Surprise, 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	Tempe, AZ	Surprise, AZ	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,609/mo	$2,372/mo	↓ $237less	9.1%
Other	$1,620/mo	$1,528/mo	↓ $91.68less	5.7%
Groceries	$876/mo	$876/mo	→ $0	0.0%
Transportation	$1,359/mo	$1,359/mo	→ $0	0.0%
All Utilities	$499/mo	$499/mo	→ $0	0.0%
Healthcare	$537/mo	$537/mo	→ $0	0.0%

Housing

↓ 9.1%

Tempe, AZ

$2,609

Surprise, AZ

$2,372

Difference

$237

less

Other

↓ 5.7%

Tempe, AZ

$1,620

Surprise, AZ

$1,528

Difference

$91.68

less

Groceries

→ 0.0%

Tempe, AZ

$876

Surprise, AZ

$876

Difference

same

Transportation

→ 0.0%

Tempe, AZ

$1,359

Surprise, AZ

$1,359

Difference

same

All Utilities

→ 0.0%

Tempe, AZ

$499

Surprise, AZ

$499

Difference

same

Healthcare

→ 0.0%

Tempe, AZ

$537

Surprise, AZ

$537

Difference

same

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,620

To$1,730

↑ $110

1 Bed

From$1,760

To$1,890

↑ $130

2 Bed

From$2,045

To$2,190

↑ $145

3 Bed

From$2,725

To$2,920

↑ $195

Tempe, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,730–$2,200/mo

Surprise, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,890–$1,890/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 Tempe, AZ

$7,171

Monthly in Surprise, AZ

$329

Difference

Home Values

Tempe

Surprise

$452K

Median Value

$385K

↓ -2.9%

YoY Change

↓ -3.9%

↑ +27.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +24.6%

$397K - $701K

Price Range

$385K

Homes in Surprise are 15% less expensive than Tempe

Calculate payment - Tempe Calculate payment - Surprise

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

Tempe, 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

Surprise, 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

Tempe, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%

Property Tax:0.6%

Surprise, 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

Tempe

Surprise

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

160 days

Heat Days >95°F

165 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

160 days

Heat Days >95°F

165 days

Before moving from Tempe, AZ to Surprise, AZ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Surprise, AZ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Tempe, 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 Tempe to Surprise moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Tempe, AZ vs Surprise, AZ

How do the cost estimates for Tempe, AZ and Surprise, AZ compare?

Surprise, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ, the model estimates $146,053 in Surprise, 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 Tempe, AZ and Surprise, AZ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,045/month in Tempe, AZ and $2,190/month in Surprise, 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.