Cost of living · head to head
Riverside, CA is 3% pricier than Phoenix, AZ.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Riverside, CAoverall index
106.4
Try your own salary
in Phoenix, AZ
To live the same in Riverside, CA, you’d need about $103,001.
That’s about $3,001 more — Riverside, CA is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 3%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Riverside, CA runs 7% higher than in Phoenix, AZ (129.3 vs 121.2), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Riverside, CA
| $50,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $51,500 |
| $75,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $77,251 |
| $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $103,001 |
| $150,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $154,501 |
| $200,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $206,002 |
Each row shows the salary in Riverside, CA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Phoenix, AZ.
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Riverside, CA · housing
129.3
Common questions
Is Riverside, CA cheaper than Phoenix, AZ?
No — Riverside, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 106.4 versus 103.3 for Phoenix, AZ, making it about 3% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Riverside, CA to match $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ?
About $103,001. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Phoenix, AZ costs roughly $103,001 in Riverside, CA.
Is housing cheaper in Riverside, CA than in Phoenix, AZ?
Housing in Riverside, CA scores 129.3 versus 121.2 in Phoenix, AZ — about 7% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Phoenix, AZ and Riverside, CA?
Overall, Riverside, CA is about 3% pricier than Phoenix, AZ (index 106.4 vs 103.3), with housing 7% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.