Not too bad
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2/17/2009
I have been living in Phoenix for the past 5 years and I do have to say that the cost of living has changed over those years but not too much. The biggest thing I have noticed an increase in has been groceries. Food is a bit more expensive now than it was 5 years ago BUT if you know how to shop for the deals and where to shop, It really shouldnt bee too bad for you. Also if you make under $1500 (I believe), you can apply for food stamps to help with groceries and having kids helps you get more money on food stamps!! And there is no shame to having food stamps to help out. Hell, it keeps money in your pocket for other things such as utilities and cable/internet and/or cell phone.
Utilities are a bit higher now and if you dont go bazzerk with your electric and know how to manage it like I do, then your bill should be $100 or less. I pay around %60-%70 or less in the winter and thanks to swamp coolers I pay around $30-$50 in the summer.
Also If you can go with satellite for cable and internet, like direct tv or dish network, you will save money over local cable companies like cox cable.
For your cell phone, if you don't really plan on traveling much outside of the Phoenix metro area, and can handle a few dropped calls and lousy customer service and not very good coverage area then cricket cell phones are a cheap way to go. you get unlimited everything (calls, text,internet,ect.) for about $50 and can buy roaming minutes for when you go outside the Phoenix metro area. Personally I'd go with virgin mobile. You don't get unlimited everything and it is a little more expensive but no dropped calls and coverage in just about everywhere you go and customer service is great!
Also Rent here is about average I would say. I pay $750/month for a 2 bedroom/ 1 bath apartment house. It isnt the nicest looking place but it keeps a roof over our head and there is virtually no bugs (well, this is AZ and the desert so your bound to get a few bugs here and there no matter what) and the place is clean and I think it looks nice for what it is. I have a friend who rented a house for %850/month. You can find it here in the phoenix metro area but you just gotta look for them. Decent 1 bedroom/1 bath apts. you can find for, I would say as low as $500. I was in one for around $550 for awhile. You can find 2 bedroom/1 bath apts. for, I would say as low as $600-$650. Granted, getting apts. that cheap won't be your upscale fancy, really nice looking apts. but if you don't have a whole lot of money like me, then those apts. do just fine for the time being!
Overall, I get by on $1200 a month. I just have learned to not spend soo much and manage my finances. On that money, I support my wife and our 1 and only kid! granted were not living the high life but we do ok considering the hard economic times we are in!
Tyler | Phoenix, AZ