Arizona
AZ • West
Quality of Life Score
51.01
State Comparison
Arizona vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Arizona has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and Arizona gets more sunshine.
Arizona
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
16
/ 31
metrics won
AZ wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
TX wins Demographics
AZ wins Taxes
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arizona
winner
vs
Texas
Arizona scores higher on quality of life — 3.80 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Texas is 8.8 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while Arizona is at 103.1.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.20 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $103.97 in Arizona.
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Income
Arizona income is 8.4% higher
Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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Jobs
Arizona minimum wage is $7.10 higher
Arizona has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.35/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Texas.
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Housing
Arizona homes cost about 1.1x more
Texas has the lower median home value at $294,400, versus $327,400 in Arizona.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 2.50% in Arizona.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Arizona
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 2.5%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Texas
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (99.2 for Arizona, 97.2 for Texas). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Arizona
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Arizona
- Arizona shows higher median income.
- Arizona has lower property tax rates on average.
- Arizona health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Arizona health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Arizona has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arizona has a higher overall cost of living.
- Arizona has a higher housing cost index.
- Arizona has higher median home values.
- Arizona has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arizona job growth trend is weaker.
- Arizona education proxy is lower.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has a lower housing cost index.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has a lower violent crime rate.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Texas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Texas has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AZ
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Phoenix | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Swing State | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
7,151,502
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$72,581
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.1
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$327,400
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.48%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
2.50%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.35/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.742/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
15.61 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.01
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.3°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
193 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
113,990 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
62.7 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
February 14, 1912 (#48)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
17
shown
Saving Money
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 vs 103.1 in Arizona. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas vs $4.742/gal in Arizona. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Arizona has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.35/hr in Arizona vs $7.25/hr in Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Arizona has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.61 c/kWh in Arizona vs 15.69 c/kWh in Texas. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Texas is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.40x in Texas vs 4.51x in Arizona. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Arizona is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 21.7% in Arizona vs 22.1% in Texas. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Arizona vs Texas - Common Questions
Q Is Arizona cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 103.1 for Arizona - a gap of 8.8 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arizona or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $103.97 in Arizona.
Q Which state is bigger - Arizona or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 113,990 sq mi for Arizona - roughly 2.4x the size.
Q Does Arizona or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 7,151,502 in Arizona.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arizona or Texas?
Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arizona or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while Arizona charges up to 2.50%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arizona or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $327,400 in Arizona.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arizona or Texas?
Texas is more densely populated at 108.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arizona is more spread out at 62.7 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.