CostIndexUSA

Rochester, MN vs Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
AZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Rochester is moderately cheaper than Scottsdale — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rochester, you would need $91,000 in Scottsdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+54.2%
Rochester
78.6
Scottsdale
121.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Rochester
95.4
Scottsdale
95
🚗 Transportation+12.8%
Rochester
96.8
Scottsdale
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+12.8%
Rochester
87.6
Scottsdale
98.8
Utilities+6.8%
Rochester
87.4
Scottsdale
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Rochester to see what you'd need to earn in Scottsdale to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Scottsdale, AZ
$91,000
$11,000 more needed in Scottsdale

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.1377. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Scottsdale has 54.2% higher housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Scottsdale, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.