What salary do you need to live in Tempe, AZ?
For a single person: about $75,000/year before taxes to live comfortably. That's the gross income whose AZ-taxed take-home covers roughly $1,667 rent plus everyday essentials, with a 20% cushion for savings. Figures include 2025 federal tax, FICA, and an effective 2.0% Arizona income tax.
Single person — est. essentials $4,134/mo
Tight
take-home covers $4,134/mo
$60,500/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $4,961/mo
$75,000/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $6,201/mo
$97,000/yr
2-person household — est. essentials $5,505/mo
Tight
take-home covers $5,505/mo
$78,500/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $6,606/mo
$95,500/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $8,258/mo
$121,000/yr
3-person household — est. essentials $6,602/mo
Tight
take-home covers $6,602/mo
$95,500/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $7,922/mo
$116,000/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $9,903/mo
$149,500/yr
4-person household — est. essentials $7,565/mo
Tight
take-home covers $7,565/mo
$110,500/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $9,078/mo
$134,500/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $11,348/mo
$175,000/yr
How we calculate this
Essentials = typical rent ($1,667) + a national non-housing baseline by household size ($2,450 for one person) + Arizona's combined sales tax on the taxable share of that spending. We then solve for the gross salary whose after-tax take-home hits each tier. Local income taxes and property taxes aren't modeled — see the methodology.
Find jobs in Tempe
Opens each board's search pre-filled for Tempe, AZ.
Planning a move here?
Get notified when Tempe gets more affordable, plus relocation tips.
We'll only email you what you asked for. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.