Purchasing Power
#14
of 124 cities
#14 of 124
North America
Phoenix
AZ, United States
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Phoenix compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Phoenix is 16% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Phoenix compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$92,880
-$80K (-46%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 31%
Community Insights
NewPhoenix is a maturing tech hub that has shifted from a "low-cost alternative" to a specialized heavy-industry titan.
While it no longer offers the dirt-cheap living of the past, the data shows it still holds a strong financial advantage for software engineers, boasting #11 in purchasing power and top-tier sunshine rankings. The tech scene is distinct: rather than the volatile world of Web3 or consumer apps, Phoenix relies on the bedrock of semiconductors, aerospace, and defense. For a software engineer, this means stability and tangible work, often closer to the hardware.
However, the lifestyle trade-off is stark. You gain a winter paradise and a spacious home but lose walkability and must endure a punishing summer that tests even the most resilient residents. It is a city of convenience and comfort, provided you have a car and good air conditioning.
Resident Sentiment
Mixed / Cautiously Optimistic
There is a palpable divide in sentiment. Recent transplants from high-cost areas (like the Bay Area) still view Phoenix as "on sale," citing the ability to buy a home with just a few years of salary. They appreciate the Mountain Standard Time (no DST) for remote work alignment.
Conversely, locals and longer-term residents express regret over the rapid increase in cost of living, feeling that the city's wages have not kept pace with its new "luxury" price tag. A common thread on Reddit is the feeling that Phoenix has lost the "affordability" charm that once compensated for the extreme heat.
Rankings
Top 11%
Home Affordability
#20
of 124 cities
≈3.3 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
Net Income
#23
of 124 cities
$92,880/yr
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Phoenix compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Phoenix to maintain the same standard of living.
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