10 Pros and Cons of Living in Arizona
Can a low cost of living and plenty of outdoor activities outweigh brutal summers and venomous wildlife? Jerry has all the pros and cons of living in Arizona!
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Table of Contents
- Pro: Low cost of living
- Con: The summer heat is outrageous
- Pro: Booming job market
- Con: Lack of metropolitan areas
- Pro: Diverse population and culture
- Con: Miles of desert
- Pro: Temperate weather…outside of summer
- Con: Forget dreaming of a white Christmas
- Pro: Plenty of outdoor activities
- Con: Snakes, scorpions, and spiders, oh my!
- Is Arizona a good state to live in?
- How to upgrade your car insurance in Arizona
- FAQs
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Between a low cost of living, temperature weather, and plenty of outdoor activities, there’s a lot to love in Arizona. But abundant venomous wildlife and most job opportunities centered in only two cities, the Grand Canyon State may not be for everyone.
If you’re thinking about moving to Arizona, you’ll want to weigh all the pros and cons of living there before making your decision. For outdoor enthusiasts and people who love temperate weather is a dream. But for those who want larger metropolitan areas or even some weather variety, Arizona may not fit the bill.
Here to help you make your decision is
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in less than a minute. We put together the top pros and cons of living in the Grand Canyon State to help you out. We’ll even help you find the best Arizona car insurance costs
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Pro: Low cost of living
Compared to other neighboring states, Arizona has a very reasonable cost of living. While the cost of living index is 106.4 (slightly higher than the national average of 100), compare that to
California
, for instance, with a COI of 149.9.One of the biggest financial perks of living in Arizona is the low or non-existent taxes. The income tax percentage is only 2.55%, and the property tax rate is a little over half of the U.S. average. (0.62% compared to 1.07%). Plus, the state of Arizona doesn’t tax social security benefits, and they don’t have any death, estate, inheritance, or gift taxes.
MORE:Cost of living in Arizona
Con: The summer heat is outrageous
While living in Arizona may be inexpensive, residents pay in other ways, like the summer heat. Seriously, this state gets hot—like, bake cookies on the sidewalk hot.
We can hear the Arizonians now: “It’s a dry heat!” So technically, yes, the heat in Arizona doesn’t include humidity like in some of the southern US states. But that doesn’t excuse the ridiculous temperatures. The average summer temperature in Arizona is 90° F, but in some parts of the state, it can reach as high as 125° F!
MORE: How to do summer car maintenance
Pro: Booming job market
If you’re moving to Arizona to look for work, you’re in luck. Arizona’s economy is growing, and part of that is due to plenty of jobs available. Ten Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in Arizona, and there are a growing number of opportunities in the healthcare, aerospace, technology, real estate, and government sectors.
There are also an increasing number of technology companies moving operations to Arizona or investing in new opportunities. Apple, for example, brought thousands of manufacturing jobs to Arizona in just the last few years.
MORE: The ultimate guide to moving to Phoenix
Con: Lack of metropolitan areas
If you’re someone that enjoys big cities and lots of nightlife, Arizona may not be for you. While the state does have two large metropolitan areas (Tucson and Phoenix), the rest of the state isn’t very populated.
This means that most of the job opportunities in the state as well as plenty of shopping, dining, or entertainment options are centered in Tucson and Phoenix. And if you don’t want to live in one of those cities, you’ll have to make do with fewer options.
Pro: Diverse population and culture
If you enjoy experiencing other cultures, Arizona has a very diverse population. One of the largest cultural groups in Arizona is Hispanic, with nearly 33% of the population identifying as Hispanic or Latino. Spanish is commonly spoken throughout Arizona and you can easily find authentic Latino restaurants and festivals throughout the state.
There are also large groups of Native Americans living in Arizona, with members from over 22 tribes including the Mojave, Hopi, Navajo, and Apache tribes. Many native languages are still spoken throughout the state, and various museums and art galleries are dedicated to preserving Native culture.
Con: Miles of desert
Arizona has a lot of beautiful natural features like the Petrified Forest, Havasu Falls, and of course the Grand Canyon. But outside of a handful of spectacular natural wonders, the rest of the state is pretty much desert. Hot, sandy, barren desert. This is especially true for the southern portion of the state.
With much of the state covered in desert, some challenges arise when you live there. Traveling through the southern part of the state presents some risks if you’re unprepared like dehydration and being exposed to extreme heat. Plus, with towns (and gas stations) few and far between, it can be easy to get lost or stranded on the side of the road.
MORE:How to check for Arizona road closures
Pro: Temperate weather…outside of summer
If you can get past the blazing summer heat, the rest of the year in Arizona is actually really temperate. With winter temperatures staying between 50 and 70° F and spring and autumn temperatures between 60 and 80° F, the weather is perfect for outdoor fun and activities for nearly nine months out of the year.
As a bonus, with the comfy temperatures and practically zero humidity, there aren’t any nasty biting bugs that plague other states. That’s right, no mosquitoes, biting gnats, flies, chiggers, or any other creepy crawlies that usually make your skin crawl after a hike!
Con: Forget dreaming of a white Christmas
The downside to all those moderate temperatures? There really aren’t any discernable seasons in Arizona. Apart from temperatures rising in the summer, the rest of the year is pretty much the same.
While that might sound like paradise for some, anyone who enjoys watching the leaves change in the fall while cozied up in a warm sweater or drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the first snowfall will be sorely disappointed in Arizona.
Pro: Plenty of outdoor activities
With awesome weather most of the year and plenty of natural beauty, Arizona is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. There are plenty of places to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, white water rafting, and more. Plus, you can do these activities almost year round if you prepare and take the proper gear.
Hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim or horseback ride through picturesque Sedona. Explore the Petrified Forest or spend some time wandering through historical “ghost towns.” There’s never a shortage of things to do in the Arizona outdoors!
MORE: Cheap car insurance if you don’t have a college degree
Con: Snakes, scorpions, and spiders, oh my!
While you’re exploring the great Arizona outdoors, keep in mind that the wild (and even plant) life isn’t always friendly. Arizona is home to several species of venomous animals as well as desert plants that are determined to ruin your day.
Take the teddy bear cholla cactus, for example. Despite its name, this little plant is one of the most dangerous plants in the Arizona desert. If you’re unfortunate enough to brush up against one, the backwards barbs imbed themselves immediately and are incredibly difficult (and painful!) to remove.
The Arizona desert is also home to rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, scorpions, and several other critters that are very dangerous (and sometimes deadly) if you happen to get stung or bitten! There are nearly 200 rattlesnake bites reported in Arizona each year, not to mention bites from all the other venomous snakes and lizards in the state!
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Is Arizona a good state to live in?
Arizona is a great state to live in for some, but may not be the best fit for others. If you’re thinking about moving to the Grand Canyon State, carefully consider all of the pros and cons before making a decision.
Arizona is a great state for:
- Outdoor enthusiasts
- Those who love warmer and more temperate climates
- Retirees or others with Social Security benefits
If you’re concerned about the summer heat or the lack of big cities, you may want to consider living somewhere besides Arizona.
MORE:Top 5 moving companies in Tucson
How to upgrade your car insurance in Arizona
Arizona has a reasonably low cost of living, and you can keep those costs low by making sure you’re not overpaying for your
car insurance
.When you download the
Jerry
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FAQs
Does Arizona have natural disasters?
With the hot and dry conditions in the summer, Arizona is susceptible to wildfires and dust storms. Wildfires can be extremely damaging to the natural environment and property, while dust storms often occur without warning and can lead to poor visibility and other issues.
What are the winters like in Arizona?
Winters in Arizona are generally very mild. Temperatures range between 50 and 70° F on average and occurrences of snow and ice are extremely rare.
Is Arizona racially diverse?
There are large Hispanic/Latino and Native American populations in Arizona, and it’s common to hear Spanish or Native languages being spoken, especially in larger cities.
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