OT: Cost of living in Phoenix, AZ

[WillCAD]

I'm toying with the idea of applying for a job opening that my company has in the Phoenix, AZ office, and I'd like to get a general idea of how the cost of living there differs from here in Baltimore, MD. If you live in or near Phoenix, you could help me a lot by giving me some average costs as you see them for a few common things:

Home and utilities:
Rent for a 1BR apartment
Electricity per KWH
Water per gal
Home phone service per month
Gas (never lived in a place with gas, dunno how it's measured by the gas co)
Basic cable TV
Cable or DSL internet

Common grocery items:
Gallon of milk
Dozen eggs
Loaf of bread
lb of ground beef
lb of chicken
Can of soup
2L bottle of Coke

Car care:
Gallon of gas
Oil change at Jiffy Lube

Misc:
Mens haircut at a place like Great Clips
Movie tickets

I'll be needing a new cell phone if I move, so if you know which cell company has the best coverage and pricing in Phoenix, that would help, too.

I'm sure there are dozens of other things to think of, but these should give me a general idea of the common expenses to compare with my current expenses.

 

[snoodledoo]

Home and utilities:
Rent for a 1BR apartment (Depends on your standards. Not sure but could range from $650 up)
Electricity per KWH (I have a 2000sq ft house and my bill ranges from $100 non-summer to $270 summer, yours may be higher as I am used to having my house at 81 deg in the summer.)
Water per gal (my bill is approx $135/mo and includes trash collection and we have a pool)
Home phone service per month ($24 no long distance, call waiting etc)
Gas (never lived in a place with gas, dunno how it's measured by the gas co) (We don't have this now, but when we did, it was maybe $35-$70mo depending on the season)
Basic cable TV (Basic cable combined with internet service $85)
Cable or DSL internet

Common grocery items:
Gallon of milk ($2.00-$2.50 on sale /regular price $3.99ish)
Dozen eggs ($1.50ish, I started buying the cage free which was 2.37)
Loaf of bread ($2.25 @ Walmart)
lb of ground beef (93% lean good sale approx $1.99)
lb of chicken (whole chicken on sale .69/lb, boneless skinless breast on sale $2.29/lb)Can of soup (currently on sale for 4/$3, cream of _)
2L bottle of Coke (sale price 4/$5, good sale would be $1/each; though I only buy pepsi products! )

Car care:
Gallon of gas (currently approx $2.15/gal)
Oil change at Jiffy Lube (not sure)

Misc:
Mens haircut at a place like Great Clips ($12ish)
Movie tickets (8.50 full price)

I don't pay full price for much, so hope this helps a little. Feel free to pm me with any questions.

 

[dizzymomx4]

Pretty much the same as previous post. We live in East Valley area, rent ranges from 700-1400. Depends on age of units, My son rents a 1 bedrooom condo with a loft for $700, very nice but new units range in the $1000 range.

I keep our house at 78 degrees in the summer, ranges $400 July-Oct, then about $150 for other times. We have a 3000 sq ft home.

Food in pretty much like the other posted, as well as gas @1.99 and oil changes around $22.00.

I am an Arizona native so anything that you might ask, just PM me and I can hopefully help you

 

[WillCAD]

The office is located in an area called The Pointe, on 16th street, next to the Piestewa Fwy. From online maps, it looks like there are a bunch of apartment or condo complexes very near to the office. How is that area for rent, proximity to shopping, crime rate, traffic, whatever?

 

[snoodledoo]

The office is located in an area called The Pointe, on 16th street, next to the Piestewa Fwy. From online maps, it looks like there are a bunch of apartment or condo complexes very near to the office. How is that area for rent, proximity to shopping, crime rate, traffic, whatever?

I live in the East Valley as well, so I'm never in that area. I think that would be north central Phx. You would have great proximity to shopping. My guess is rent would be on the high side and crime a little lower. I don't know what you're used to as far as traffic, but we have plenty of it - especially at rush hour.

And I did just fill up my gas tank today for $1.91/gal!

 

[Dsnymouse]

My suggestion, go visit before making a decision. I am a native Phoenician. If I have it my way I will never move there again. I have seen a great town become too large! As so not to get flammed, Phoenix has great things about it. Such as museums, symphonies, big name concerts, shopping & sport's to boot. You must like HOT!!! Summer's are long and tiresome. That being said, it might be a great match for you. No snow and hot summer's might be appealing for you. If you ever need relief from the heat head north to Sedona or Flagstaff, beauty all around and cooler temps.

Good luck!

 

[WillCAD]

My suggestion, go visit before making a decision. I am a native Phoenician. If I have it my way I will never move there again. I have seen a great town become too large! As so not to get flammed, Phoenix has great things about it. Such as museums, symphonies, big name concerts, shopping & sport's to boot. You must like HOT!!! Summer's are long and tiresome. That being said, it might be a great match for you. No snow and hot summer's might be appealing for you. If you ever need relief from the heat head north to Sedona or Flagstaff, beauty all around and cooler temps.

Good luck!

Well, I'd definitely visit at least once, to interview, before accepting the position. Also, I will be vacationing in Vegas in April, so I might be able to make fit in an overnight trip to Phoenix to have a look around; I understand the drive from Vegas to Phoenix is about 4 hours each way.

This is all still speculation at the moment. I haven't even sent an inquiry to the HR people in the Phoenix office to see it the position is still open, or if they're interested in considering me for it. The whole thing could be blown out of the water by Monday afternoon.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Depending on where in Vegas it is a easy 5 hour drive.
If it's a good match, go for it! Phoenix isn't all bad, I guess growing up there I just got tired of it.