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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,095 in Tempe, AZ versus $2,892 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,942 in Tempe, AZ versus $4,021 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,789 in Tempe, AZ versus $5,151 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Living in Tempe, AZ is roughly 7% more expensive than Saratoga Springs, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tempe, AZ 131% above, Saratoga Springs, NY 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.84 $18.84

$19.67 $19.67

-4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$66.0 $66.0

19.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$7.94 $7.94

48.24%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$4.06 $4.06

31.03%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.11 $2.11

30.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.71 $1.71

30.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.98 $4.98

20.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$6.81 $6.81

5.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.09 $1.09

-17.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.46 $3.46

21.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$8.24 $8.24

-35.32%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$3.66 $3.66

31.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 $11.08

$18.71 $18.71

-40.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$23.86 $23.86

-50.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$19.38 $19.38

-23.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.78 $3.78

26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.38 $1.38

7.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.79 $3.79

6.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$7.23 $7.23

-30.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.21 $3.21

-22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.92 $2.92

-8.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.92 $1.92

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.57 $1.57

45.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.59 $10.59

$12.81 $12.81

-17.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 $13.53

$14.77 $14.77

-8.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.70 $1.70

26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.42 $5.42

-36.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.46 $2.46

-20.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 $60.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.99 $1.99

34.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.40 $1.40

-4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.91 $35.91

$29.12 $29.12

23.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.85 $0.85

2.35%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$33.3K $33.3K

-8.61%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.57%

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

$254 $254

$196 $196

29.39%

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

$70.8 $70.8

$52.5 $52.5

34.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.1 $83.1

$66.4 $66.4

25.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.88 $29.88

$59.0 $59.0

-49.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 $15.12

$19.98 $19.98

-24.32%

Cinema Ticket

$13.20 $13.20

$14.86 $14.86

-11.17%

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

$1,083 $1,083

$1,381 $1,381

-21.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.4K $15.4K

$30.6K $30.6K

-49.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$48.25 $48.25

15.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.58 $40.58

$34.50 $34.50

17.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 $89.3

$84.9 $84.9

5.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$112 $112

-6.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 $1,926

$2,467 $2,467

-21.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,723 $1,723

$1,600 $1,600

7.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,478 $2,478

$2,984 $2,984

-16.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,833 $1,833

$2,209 $2,209

-17.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,025 $4,025

$4,885 $4,885

-17.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.36

2.83%

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

Last update for Tempe, AZ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Saratoga Springs, NY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,926 in Tempe, AZ and $2,467 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saratoga Springs, NY pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Tempe, AZ vs $66.0 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $496, 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

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

Saratoga Springs, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 7% 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.

On paper, Saratoga Springs, NY earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,926 in Tempe, AZ versus $2,467 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tempe, AZ pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,095 per month in Tempe, AZ versus $2,892 in Saratoga Springs, NY – a 7% 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, Tempe, AZ and Saratoga Springs, NY 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 7% less than in Tempe, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.