City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 6.1% higher than in Charlotte, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charlotte, NC would need about $106,100 in Phoenix, AZ to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,538 a month in Charlotte, NC and $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,190 a year higher in Charlotte, NC than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.3% moving from Charlotte, NC to Phoenix, AZ ($108,810 → $111,338), while prices change by +6.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.6% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charlotte, NC | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,131 in Phoenix | $94,224 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → Phoenix, AZ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,190/yr.
51 Fair offer
Phoenix, AZ → Charlotte, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,190/yr.
88 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Charlotte → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $64,564 | −3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $78,117 | −3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $93,629 | −3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $111,338 | −3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $131,568 | −3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,680 | $59,180 | $55,761 (−5.0%) |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $131,750 | $124,140 (−8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $80,820 | $76,151 (−18.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | $100,830 | $95,006 (+4.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.