Phoenix vs Yuma
Compare Phoenix, AZ and Yuma, AZ on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Yuma is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $950/mo versus $1,432/mo in Phoenix — a gap of about $482/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,264/mo against $1,877/mo. Across the four public-data screens Phoenix comes out ahead (260 vs 238 summed points), though Yuma still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 107°F and 104°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Yuma; if walkable daily life matters more, Phoenix screens stronger on the walkability proxy (15 vs 6). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Yuma leads 85 to 64 on the cost and climate screen.
Phoenix leads 81 to 77 on the work screen.
Phoenix leads 53 to 36 on the daily life screen.
Phoenix leads 62 to 40 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Phoenix is roughly $226,667 in Yuma using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Phoenix | Yuma | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,432/mo | $950/mo | Yuma |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,877/mo | $1,264/mo | Yuma |
| Median home value | $361,000 | $174,000 | Yuma |
| State income tax | 2.5% | 2.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 28.9 min | 22.8 min | Yuma |
| Safety score | 45/100 | 44/100 | Phoenix |
| School score | 6/10 | 3/10 | Phoenix |
| Walkability estimate | 15/100 | 6/100 | Phoenix |
| Outdoor score | 10/10 | 10/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 169.7 | 129.2 | Phoenix |
| Mountain distance | 51 mi | 126 mi | Phoenix |
| Coast distance | 165 mi | 55 mi | Yuma |
What stands out
Phoenix stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 23 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Phoenix tradeoffs
- Very hot summers
Yuma stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 2 miles
- Coast access within 55 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Yuma tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Phoenix cheaper than Yuma?
On public benchmarks Yuma is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,432/mo in Phoenix vs $950/mo in Yuma; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,877/mo vs $1,264/mo; state income tax is 2.5% vs 2.5%.
Is Phoenix or Yuma safer?
Phoenix screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 45/100 for Phoenix and 44/100 for Yuma (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Phoenix or Yuma?
School screens show 6/10 for Phoenix vs 3/10 for Yuma, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Phoenix and Yuma?
Phoenix: summer highs near 107°F, winter lows near 43°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Yuma: 104°F / 41°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match