Cost of Living in Scottsdale, AZ - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,207 (excluding rent), and $3,061 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,559 (excluding rent), and $5,786 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.84 $18.84

$10.18 $10.18

$40.73 $40.73

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.2 $77.2

$50.1 $50.1

$125 $125

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$9.05 $9.05

$14.08 $14.08

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$3.02 $3.02

$8.11 $8.11

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

$2.83 $2.83

$1.99 $1.99

$3.97 $3.97

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.2 $2.2

$1.01 $1.01

$3.04 $3.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.96 $3.96

$6.93 $6.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 $7.05

$5.03 $5.03

$9.06 $9.06

Milk (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$0.65 $0.65

$1.33 $1.33

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.21 $2.21

$6.11 $6.11

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.25 $2.25

$9.01 $9.01

Eggs

$4.25 $4.25

$2.01 $2.01

$6.03 $6.03

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$5.94 $5.94

$15.47 $15.47

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.73 $11.73

$4.36 $4.36

$17.54 $17.54

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.96 $14.96

$8.78 $8.78

$19.95 $19.95

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.11 $2.11

$8.69 $8.69

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.07 $1.07

$3.47 $3.47

Oranges (1kg)

$3.8 $3.8

$2.15 $2.15

$6.51 $6.51

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.01 $2.01

$5.66 $5.66

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.3 $1.3

$5.41 $5.41

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.49 $1.49

$4.33 $4.33

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.21 $1.21

$2.52 $2.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.48 $1.48

$3.46 $3.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.02 $8.02

$12.04 $12.04

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$7.99 $7.99

$19.97 $19.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.4 $1.4

$3.83 $3.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.26 $1.26

$6.04 $6.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.22 $1.22

$2.25 $2.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.68 $42.68

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.85 $4.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.22 $1.22

$1.34 $1.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.95 $35.95

$64.9 $64.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.8 $0.8

$1.07 $1.07

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$23.7K $23.7K

$36.7K $36.7K

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.8K $23.8K

$29.6K $29.6K

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

$260 $260

$123 $123

$405 $405

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

$70.4 $70.4

$25.14 $25.14

$120 $120

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.3 $80.3

$50.3 $50.3

$126 $126

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.96 $34.96

$25.46 $25.46

$40.73 $40.73

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 $13.24

$9.15 $9.15

$15.27 $15.27

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

$1,160 $1,160

$710 $710

$1,232 $1,232

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K $15.5K

$9,128 $9,128

$29.8K $29.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$24.88 $24.88

$74.7 $74.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.72 $41.72

$23.83 $23.83

$55.8 $55.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 $83.8

$49.97 $49.97

$140 $140

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$49.65 $49.65

$199 $199

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,858 $1,858

$1,004 $1,004

$2,511 $2,511

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 $1,688

$1,383 $1,383

$1,828 $1,828

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,395 $3,395

$2,787 $2,787

$4,480 $4,480

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,823 $2,823

$2,446 $2,446

$3,567 $3,567

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,271 $3,271

$2,972 $2,972

$3,824 $3,824

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,957 $2,957

$2,910 $2,910

$3,018 $3,018

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,515 $5,515

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.8

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

Last update: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Scottsdale, AZ - Frequently Asked Questions

Scottsdale sits in the middle ground between bargain Southwest towns and pricier coastal cities. It offers a polished lifestyle with outdoor recreation, strong amenities, and reliable infrastructure. The Cost of Living in Scottsdale, AZ, United States tends to shift with seasons and tourism, but you’ll find stable housing options and predictable costs for essentials compared with peak tourism areas. Parking, amenities, and dining can skew higher than rural areas, yet outside the core Old Town you can find calmer neighborhoods with more space for less. Plan around winter events and slightly higher summer demand. Tip: Build a flexible itinerary and compare neighborhoods by walkability and transit options to maximize value.

For housing search, many start near Old Town or within easy access to shops and trails, then test longer leases or flexible options. Food choices span casual bistros, farmers’ markets, and international groceries, with seasonal produce often at good value. Transport works best with a car or rideshares for longer trips, though walkable cores exist. Co-working spaces and coffee shops make remote work easy, with a few hours of reliable bandwidth and social spaces. Scottsdale, AZ, United States living cost tends to reflect neighborhood dynamics – affordable pockets exist near midtown and along major corridors, higher in tourist-friendly zones. Tip: Schedule visits across a weekday and weekend to gauge noise and traffic.

Think about a simple budgeting framework: separate essentials, lifestyle, and savings, and adjust by season. Scottsdale lets you balance outdoor activities with dining and shopping, which can influence your choices. For better quality of life, test different neighborhoods by walkability, access to trails, and proximity to coworking spaces, not just rent. In summer, consider energy usage and air conditioning when planning stays, while winter crowds can affect availability. Use short leases or month-to-month options to test comfort before committing long-term. Tip: Use short trips to scout neighborhoods at different times and talk to locals about the vibe.