Cost of Living Comparison Between Saratoga Springs, NY and Tempe, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Saratoga Springs, NY and Tempe, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,874 in Saratoga Springs, NY versus $3,207 in Tempe, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,042 in Saratoga Springs, NY versus $4,031 in Tempe, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,211 in Saratoga Springs, NY versus $4,856 in Tempe, AZ.

Living in Saratoga Springs, NY costs roughly 10% less than in Tempe, AZ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saratoga Springs, NY 109% above, Tempe, AZ 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$19.88 $19.88

-7.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.4 $77.4

$79.8 $79.8

-3.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.18 $8.18

$12.95 $12.95

-36.83%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.26 $5.26

4.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.00 $3.00

-12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.41 $2.41

-21.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 $6.69

$5.96 $5.96

12.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.70 $7.70

$7.35 $7.35

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.00 $1.00

-4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.30 $4.30

-20.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$6.22 $6.22

-27.97%

Eggs

$3.95 $3.95

$4.80 $4.80

-17.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 $11.18

$13.40 $13.40

-16.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.51 $13.51

$13.74 $13.74

-1.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.85 $17.85

$17.38 $17.38

2.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.68 $5.68

13.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.80 $1.80

-23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.17 $4.17

23.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.04 $5.04

34.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.57 $2.57

17.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.98 $2.98

13.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.23 $2.23

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.36 $2.36

16.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.88 $12.88

$10.50 $10.50

22.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.66 $13.66

10.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.51 $2.51

21.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 $4.77

$3.13 $3.13

52.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 $64.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.69 $2.69

47.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.36 $1.36

61.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.41 $30.41

$35.99 $35.99

-15.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.06 $1.06

-11.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.4K $34.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

-3.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

-2.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$235 $235

$231 $231

1.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.6 $51.6

$59.6 $59.6

-13.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 $57.5

$75.1 $75.1

-23.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 $60.7

$29.42 $29.42

106.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.98 $19.98

$14.74 $14.74

35.55%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$13.70 $13.70

11.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,398 $1,398

$1,081 $1,081

29.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$15.9K $15.9K

11.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$62.0 $62.0

-11.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.24 $48.24

$45.04 $45.04

7.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 $95.8

$97.9 $97.9

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$113 $113

-10.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,464 $2,464

$1,853 $1,853

32.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$1,746 $1,746

-9.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,020 $3,020

$2,547 $2,547

18.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,708 $1,708

29.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,030 $5,030

$4,007 $4,007

25.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

6.21

-2.90%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saratoga Springs, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Tempe, AZ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,464 in Saratoga Springs, NY and $1,853 in Tempe, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saratoga Springs, NY pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $77.0 in Saratoga Springs, NY vs $80.0 in Tempe, AZ. Groceries flip the comparison at $441 vs $436, with Tempe, AZ cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Saratoga Springs, NY vs Tempe, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saratoga Springs, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Tempe, AZ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saratoga Springs, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 26% higher in Saratoga Springs, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,464 in Saratoga Springs, NY versus $1,853 in Tempe, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tempe, AZ pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,874 per month in Saratoga Springs, NY versus $3,207 in Tempe, AZ – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Saratoga Springs, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Saratoga Springs, NY and Tempe, AZ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Saratoga Springs, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Tempe, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.