Moving to Arizona from Pennsylvania
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Pennsylvania to Arizona — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona, you would find that Arizona is 3.0% cheaper than Pennsylvania. A $75,000 salary in Pennsylvania would need to be roughly $74,940 in Arizona to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Phoenix averages 87°F vs 61°F in Harrisburg, making it significantly warmer. What to expect for your wallet after moving from Pennsylvania to Arizona. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → $74,940 To maintain the same standard of living in Arizona Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day Restaurants pay 10.2% more Groceries pay 13.4% less Transportation pay 5.5% less Housing pay 20.1% more Childcare pay 32.2% less Entertainment and Sports pay 0.9% more Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources. Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Pennsylvania to Arizona. incidents per 100,000 people per year incidents per 100,000 people per year Pennsylvania performs better than Arizona across all safety metrics. share of people without health insurance share of adults with obesity share of adults with diabetes share of adults who smoke Pennsylvania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Arizona leads in adult obesity rate. typical price of a home typical monthly gross rent share of homes that are owner-occupied Pennsylvania performs better than Arizona across all what about housing? metrics. share of households with internet minutes each way to work Arizona performs significantly better than Pennsylvania across all infrastructure metrics. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person typical annual income of a household share of people below the poverty line Pennsylvania generally does better on employment & economy, though Arizona leads in median household income. average years of life at birth share of adults with a 4-year college degree Pennsylvania performs better than Arizona across all family life metrics. Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: Costs in Arizona and Pennsylvania are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities. Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,735 in Arizona on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit). Pennsylvania performs better than Arizona across all safety metrics. Pennsylvania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Arizona leads in adult obesity rate. The average high temperature in Phoenix is 87°F, compared to 61°F in Harrisburg. Phoenix receives around 8.2 in of rainfall per year, while Harrisburg gets 43.6 in. How Far Will Your Money Go?
Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Harrisburg Phoenix Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 73°/49°F (23°/10°C) Apr–Jun 71°/50°F (22°/10°C) 95°/69°F (35°/20°C) Jul–Sep 81°/61°F (27°/16°C) 103°/80°F (40°/27°C) Oct–Dec 52°/34°F (11°/1°C) 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) View all months
Month Harrisburg Phoenix Jan 36°/21°F (2.5°/-5.9°C) 69°/46°F (20.3°/7.6°C) Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.1°C) 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.3°C) Mar 49°/30°F (9.3°/-0.9°C) 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) Apr 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.7°C) May 72°/50°F (22.2°/10.1°C) 95°/69°F (34.8°/20.6°C) Jun 81°/60°F (27.2°/15.5°C) 104°/77°F (39.9°/25.1°C) Jul 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.8°C) 106°/83°F (41.0°/28.1°C) Aug 83°/63°F (28.2°/17.0°C) 104°/82°F (40.1°/27.8°C) Sep 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.8°C) 100°/75°F (37.8°/24.1°C) Oct 63°/42°F (17.4°/5.6°C) 89°/64°F (31.8°/18.0°C) Nov 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.6°C) 76°/52°F (24.7°/11.1°C) Dec 40°/26°F (4.4°/-3.2°C) 67°/45°F (19.6°/7.1°C) 
National Weather Service Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Arizona than Pennsylvania?
How much money do I need to move to Arizona?
Is Arizona safe?
How is healthcare in Arizona compared to Pennsylvania?
What's the weather like in Arizona compared to Pennsylvania?
