Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Maricopa County, AZ would need to be about $43,265 in Apache County, AZ, or $6,735 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Maricopa County, AZ vs Apache County, AZ: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Apache County, AZ is cheaper than Maricopa County, AZ.
Moving to Apache County, AZ is estimated to save $7,737 per year.
Cheaper County
Apache County, AZSave about $7,737 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Maricopa County, AZ is about $43,265 in Apache County, AZ.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $3,031 per year. Housing saves $8,935 per year.
Housing: $8,935 lower in Apache County, AZ
Taxes: $2,020 lower in Apache County, AZ
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,917 higher in Apache County, AZ
Food: $34 higher in Apache County, AZ
Transport: $3,031 higher in Apache County, AZ
Maricopa County, AZ→Apache County, AZ
Equivalent salary in Apache County, AZ
$43,265
-13.47% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Maricopa County, AZ: $100,929
Median Income in Apache County, AZ: $49,277
Living Index in Maricopa County, AZ 56.93%
Living Index in Apache County, AZ 100.90%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Maricopa County, AZ to Apache County, AZ.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Maricopa County, AZ to Apache County, AZ is estimated to save $7,737 per year. A $50,000 salary in Maricopa County, AZ would have similar purchasing power to about $43,265 in Apache County, AZ. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -13.47% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $8,935 per year lower (-48.36%); Other Costs is $2,763 per year lower (-39.37%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Maricopa County, AZ and Apache County, AZ, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 56.9% of median family income in Maricopa County, AZ and 100.9% in Apache County, AZ. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,935 per year lower in Apache County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Apache County, AZ changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $34 per year higher in Apache County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Apache County, AZ can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $3,031 per year higher in Apache County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Apache County, AZ.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,917 per year higher in Apache County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Apache County, AZ changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,763 per year lower in Apache County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Apache County, AZ help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Maricopa County, AZ and Apache County, AZ, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Apache County, AZ, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $2,020 per year lower in Apache County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Apache County, AZ matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Apache County, AZ.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Apache County, AZ
Annual Increase:
$3,031 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Apache County, AZ.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Apache County, AZ
Annual Savings:
$8,935 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Apache County, AZ.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -48% lower | |
| Food | 1% higher | |
| Transport | 25% higher | |
| Healthcare | 60% higher | |
| Other Costs | -39% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -19% lower |
In Apache County, AZ, modeled annual costs are $49,721 compared with $57,458 in Maricopa County, AZ.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Apache County, AZ. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Apache County, AZ is not a metropolitan location, while Maricopa County, AZ is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
