Arizona
AZ • West
Quality of Life Score
51.01
State Comparison
Arizona vs Utah
Arizona is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arizona, Utah has higher incomes, Arizona has lower state income tax, and Arizona gets more sunshine.
Arizona
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Utah
16
/ 31
metrics won
AZ wins Housing
UT wins Quality of Life
AZ wins Climate
UT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arizona
vs
Utah
winner
Utah scores higher on quality of life — 6.93 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
Arizona is 4.1 points cheaper overall
Arizona has the lower cost-of-living index. Arizona is at 103.1, while Utah is at 107.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.37 further in Arizona
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.97 of local buying power in Arizona, versus $103.60 in Utah.
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Income
Utah income is 9.0% higher
Utah has the higher median household income at $79,133, compared with $72,581 in Arizona.
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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 Utah.
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Housing
Utah homes cost about 1.5x more
Arizona has the lower median home value at $327,400, versus $484,100 in Utah.
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Taxes
Arizona has lower state income tax
Arizona has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 2.50%, compared with 4.65% in Utah.
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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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Utah
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.7%)
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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, 95.6 for Utah). 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 has a lower overall cost of living.
- Arizona has a lower housing cost index.
- Arizona has lower median home values.
- Arizona has lower property tax rates on average.
- Arizona has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arizona shows lower median income.
- Arizona has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arizona job growth trend is weaker.
- Arizona health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Arizona health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Arizona education proxy is lower.
Utah
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Utah
- Utah shows higher median income.
- Utah has a lower violent crime rate.
- Utah job growth trend is stronger.
- Utah health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Utah health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Utah education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Utah has a higher overall cost of living.
- Utah has a higher housing cost index.
- Utah has higher median home values.
- Utah has higher property tax rates on average.
- Utah has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AZ
|
UT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Phoenix | Salt Lake City |
|
State Color
|
Swing State | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
7,151,502
|
3,271,616
|
|
Median Income
|
$72,581
|
$79,133
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.1
|
107.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$327,400
|
$484,100
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.48%
|
0.52%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
2.50%
|
4.65%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.35/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.742/gal
|
$4.162/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
15.61 c/kWh
|
12.88 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.01
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.3°F
|
48.6°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
193 days
|
125 days
|
|
Land Area
|
113,990 sq mi
|
84,897 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
62.7 per sq mi
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
February 14, 1912 (#48)
|
January 4, 1896 (#45)
|
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
20
shown
Saving Money
Arizona is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.1 vs 107.2 in Utah. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Utah is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.162/gal in Utah 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 Utah. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Utah has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.88 c/kWh in Utah vs 15.61 c/kWh in Arizona. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Arizona is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.51x in Arizona vs 6.12x in Utah. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Utah is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 21.1% in Utah vs 21.7% in Arizona. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Arizona vs Utah - Common Questions
Q Is Arizona cheaper to live in than Utah?
Arizona has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arizona scores 103.1 versus 107.2 for Utah - a gap of 4.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arizona or Utah?
$100 goes further in Arizona. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.97 in Arizona, compared with $103.60 in Utah.
Q Which state is bigger - Arizona or Utah?
Arizona is larger, covering 113,990 sq mi compared with 84,897 sq mi for Utah - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Arizona or Utah have more people?
Arizona has the larger population at 7,151,502, compared with 3,271,616 in Utah.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arizona or Utah?
Utah has the higher median household income at $79,133, versus $72,581 in Arizona.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arizona or Utah?
Arizona has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 4.65% in Utah.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arizona or Utah?
Homes are cheaper in Arizona, where the median home value is $327,400, versus $484,100 in Utah.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arizona or Utah?
Arizona is more densely populated at 62.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Utah is more spread out at 38.5 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.