City Comparison
Phoenix vs Moscow
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Moscow scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Phoenix
Moscow
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Moscow is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
106% higher compared to Phoenix.
Housing costs are a major driver: Phoenix's average rent is
12% higher than Moscow's.
| Metric | Phoenix | Moscow | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,492 | $1,338 | +12% |
| Groceries | $426 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $391 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $64 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $380 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,753 | $1,338 | +106% |
| Cost Index | 105 | 111 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Moscow offers 35% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Moscow delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Phoenix is estimated at
$52,974 vs $84,360 in Moscow.
| Metric | Phoenix | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,356 | $76,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,974 | $84,360 |
| Purchasing Power | 47,006 idx | 68,468 idx |
| Household Income | $81,332 | $57,022 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Phoenix | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 14.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Moscow has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,000 minutes (100 hours) per year compared to Phoenix.
Moscow scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Moscow leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Phoenix | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 14 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/10 | 45.0/10 |
| Walkability | 41.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 31.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Phoenix is the larger city
— approximately 63.8x the population of Moscow.
From a growth perspective, Moscow is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Moscow has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Phoenix | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,677,947 | 26,286 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.75% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 25.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Phoenix
Advantages
Phoenix's job market is projected to grow by 0.7% in 2026, outpacing many other regions.
The city ranks as the No. 7 most supportive city in the U.S. for small businesses as of April 2026.
Healthcare costs in Phoenix are 4% lower than the national average.
The average one-way commute time in Phoenix is 26 minutes, slightly less than the U.S. average.
Phoenix experiences abundant sunshine, averaging over 300 days per year.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Phoenix is 5% higher than the national average, primarily due to housing expenses.
Phoenix's overall crime rate, while below the national average, still faces challenges with property crimes like auto theft.
The city has a low walkability score of 41, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Summers in Phoenix are extremely hot, with average July highs around 105°F.
Traffic congestion in Phoenix resulted in commuters losing 76 hours in 2024, higher than the national average.
Moscow
Advantages
High walkability score of 48, making many errands accessible on foot.
Short average commute time of 14.3 minutes, significantly below the national average.
Strong presence of the University of Idaho contributes to a vibrant cultural scene and job market.
Crime rates have seen a significant decrease, with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Rental prices are relatively affordable compared to national averages, despite a higher cost of living than the Idaho average.
Drawbacks
Median household income ($57,022) is below the national average.
Cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
Limited public transit options contribute to a medium car dependency.
Job growth rate of 0.167% is modest.
Median age of 25.7 is significantly younger than the national average, which may not appeal to all demographics.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Phoenix
#100Arizona, USA
55.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,492
Avg Salary
$49,356
Cost Index
105
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
42.0/10
Walkability
41.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.75%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
68
Business
75
Moscow
#72Idaho, USA
60.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
111
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
87
Business
65
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