City comparison
Phoenix vs Charlotte Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Phoenix (113.5) and Charlotte (108.1).
Phoenix Index
113.5
Charlotte Index
108.1
Phoenix Rent
$2,525
Charlotte Rent
$2,325
Phoenix Home price
$459,000
Charlotte Home price
$406,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Phoenix to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Charlotte.
Equivalent salary in Charlotte
$86,670
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Phoenix and Charlotte.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Phoenix | Charlotte | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 136 | 126 | -10.0 (-7.4%) |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | -2.0 (-2.0%) |
| Transportation | 103 | 100 | -3.0 (-2.9%) |
| Healthcare | 98 | 97 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 98 | -10.0 (-9.3%) |
| Miscellaneous | 101 | 99 | -2.0 (-2.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,160 / $4,870
Phoenix / Charlotte
Couple
$8,570 / $8,080
Phoenix / Charlotte
Family
$12,070 / $11,400
Phoenix / Charlotte
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Phoenix city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Phoenix.
View Charlotte city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Charlotte.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.