Question 1

Is Glendale or Tempe cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Tempe, AZ is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,130/month less than in Glendale, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,903/mo in Glendale versus $1,623/mo in Tempe.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Glendale vs Tempe?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $105,000/year before tax in Glendale, CA and $76,000/year in Tempe, AZ — a difference of about $29,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Glendale or Tempe cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Tempe, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $12,166/month in Glendale and $9,401/month in Tempe, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Glendale or Tempe?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Tempe costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Glendale51	Tempe56
Est. monthly cost (single)	$5,322	$4,192
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$12,166	$9,401
Salary for comfort	$105,000/yr	$76,000/yr
Typical rent	$2,903	$1,623
Median home value	$1,043,900	$421,900
Median household income	$84,262	$77,643
Unemployment	5.2%	4.8%
Housing score	2	45
Jobs score	22	20
Safety score	70	45
Climate score	100	72
Amenities score	69	66
Population	192.3K	186.4K
Summer high / winter low	87° / 42°	106° / 46°

Glendale, CA vs Tempe, AZ