2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Tempe, AZ vs Barstow, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Barstow or is it cheaper to live in Tempe?
- Barstow is 5.0% more expensive than Tempe.

Which city has more affordable housing, Barstow or Tempe?
- Barstow housing costs are 51.4% less expensive than Tempe housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Tempe or is Health Care more affordable in Barstow.
- Health related expenses are 1.4% less in Barstow.
 Tempe, AZBarstow, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock118.6100
 Food & Groceries98.1  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock91.2100
 Housing138.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$247,000$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock99.0100
 Miscellaneous105.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Tempe    22 Reviews

Tempe is a very unique case of a College Town that has quickly become a Small College City or a Small City. It used to be where there was small pockets of walkability  More

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Tempe is a small city that definitely has nice areas, nice weather, the people are always good, and it is home of ASU. The Tempe town council has done a good job towards  More

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Over 11 years ago

Lived in Arizona 55 yrs Phoenix /Tempe lost my job and got a offer to keep my job but had to move Fall River MA. I will take the heat over days of cold anytime . January  More

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Reviews for Barstow    14 Reviews

Mike · 

The positive of Barstow- yes there is something positive that can be said about Barstow. At least it's not as bad as South Lake Tahoe. The only reason it gets 2 stars  More

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Over 7 years ago

Just a place to travel thru. Cheap alternative to LA suburbs, about 70 miles or Palm Springs. It is in high Mojave desert, hot in the summer, 100-110, can get down  More

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Be careful is all I can say. I moved there with the focus to buy a home the investor Cliff Unegbu AKA Clifford Unegbu will rip off as many people as he can and use  More

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