Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Maricopa County, AZ would need to be about $44,190 in Yuma County, AZ, or $5,810 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Maricopa County, AZ vs Yuma County, AZ: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Yuma County, AZ is cheaper than Maricopa County, AZ.
Moving to Yuma County, AZ is estimated to save $6,675 per year.
Cheaper County
Yuma County, AZSave about $6,675 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Maricopa County, AZ is about $44,190 in Yuma County, AZ.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $2,886 per year. Housing saves $5,959 per year.
Housing: $5,959 lower in Yuma County, AZ
Taxes: $1,777 lower in Yuma County, AZ
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,886 higher in Yuma County, AZ
Food: $450 lower in Yuma County, AZ
Transport: $614 higher in Yuma County, AZ
Maricopa County, AZ→Yuma County, AZ
Equivalent salary in Yuma County, AZ
$44,190
-11.62% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Maricopa County, AZ: $100,929
Median Income in Yuma County, AZ: $67,312
Living Index in Maricopa County, AZ 56.93%
Living Index in Yuma County, AZ 75.44%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Maricopa County, AZ to Yuma 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 Yuma County, AZ is estimated to save $6,675 per year. A $50,000 salary in Maricopa County, AZ would have similar purchasing power to about $44,190 in Yuma County, AZ. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -11.62% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $5,959 per year lower (-32.25%); Other Costs is $1,989 per year lower (-28.34%).
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 Yuma 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 75.4% in Yuma County, AZ. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $5,959 per year lower in Yuma 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 Yuma County, AZ changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $450 per year lower in Yuma County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Yuma County, AZ can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $614 per year higher in Yuma 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 Yuma County, AZ.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,886 per year higher in Yuma County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Yuma County, AZ changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,989 per year lower in Yuma County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Yuma 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 Yuma County, AZ, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Yuma County, AZ, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,777 per year lower in Yuma County, AZ than in Maricopa County, AZ. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Yuma 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 Yuma County, AZ.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Yuma County, AZ
Annual Increase:
$2,886 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Yuma County, AZ.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Yuma County, AZ
Annual Savings:
$5,959 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Yuma County, AZ.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -32% lower | |
| Food | -11% lower | |
| Transport | 5% higher | |
| Healthcare | 60% higher | |
| Other Costs | -28% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -16% lower |
In Yuma County, AZ, modeled annual costs are $50,783 compared with $57,458 in Maricopa County, AZ.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Yuma County, AZ. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Yuma County, AZ and Maricopa County, AZ are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
