Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Maricopa County, AZ would need to be about $42,000 in La Paz County, AZ, or $8,000 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Maricopa County, AZ vs La Paz County, AZ: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
La Paz County, AZ is cheaper than Maricopa County, AZ.
Moving to La Paz County, AZ is estimated to save $9,196 per year.
Cheaper County
La Paz County, AZSave about $9,196 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Maricopa County, AZ is about $42,000 in La Paz County, AZ.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $2,385 per year. Housing saves $7,843 per year.
Housing: $7,843 lower in La Paz County, AZ
Taxes: $2,355 lower in La Paz County, AZ
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,385 higher in La Paz County, AZ
Food: $46 lower in La Paz County, AZ
Transport: $1,113 higher in La Paz County, AZ
Maricopa County, AZ→La Paz County, AZ
Equivalent salary in La Paz County, AZ
$42,000
-16% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Maricopa County, AZ: $100,929
Median Income in La Paz County, AZ: $61,713
Living Index in Maricopa County, AZ 56.93%
Living Index in La Paz County, AZ 78.20%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Maricopa County, AZ to La Paz 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 La Paz County, AZ is estimated to save $9,196 per year. A $50,000 salary in Maricopa County, AZ would have similar purchasing power to about $42,000 in La Paz County, AZ. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -16% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,843 per year lower (-42.45%); Other Costs is $2,449 per year lower (-34.9%).
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 La Paz 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 78.2% in La Paz County, AZ. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,843 per year lower in La Paz 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 La Paz County, AZ changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $46 per year lower in La Paz County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in La Paz County, AZ can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,113 per year higher in La Paz 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 La Paz County, AZ.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,385 per year higher in La Paz County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if La Paz County, AZ changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,449 per year lower in La Paz County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in La Paz 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 La Paz County, AZ, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in La Paz County, AZ, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $2,355 per year lower in La Paz County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in La Paz 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 La Paz County, AZ.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to La Paz County, AZ
Annual Increase:
$2,385 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to La Paz County, AZ.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to La Paz County, AZ
Annual Savings:
$7,843 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to La Paz County, AZ.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -42% lower | |
| Food | -1% lower | |
| Transport | 9% higher | |
| Healthcare | 49% higher | |
| Other Costs | -35% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -22% lower |
In La Paz County, AZ, modeled annual costs are $48,262 compared with $57,458 in Maricopa County, AZ.
Overall, annual costs are lower in La Paz County, AZ. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case La Paz 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.
