City Comparison
Surprise vs Scottsdale
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Surprise scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Surprise
Scottsdale
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Scottsdale is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Surprise.
| Metric | Surprise | Scottsdale | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,100 | $1,930 | +9% |
| Groceries | $400 | $420 | -5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $130 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $3,020 | $2,890 | +4% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 118 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Scottsdale offers 15% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Surprise delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Surprise is estimated at
$60,000 vs $68,000 in Scottsdale.
| Metric | Surprise | Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $85,000 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $68,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 73,469 idx | 72,034 idx |
| Household Income | $96,711 | $110,886 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.80000000000001°F of each other.
| Metric | Surprise | Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 75.10°F | 75.90°F |
| Summer High | 106.10°F | 106.10°F |
| Winter Low | 47.00°F | 47.40°F |
| Rainfall | 10.70 in | 15.70 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 330 | 325 |
| Humidity | 30.00% | 31.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Scottsdale has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Surprise.
Scottsdale scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Scottsdale leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Surprise | Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 40.0/100 | 51.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 54.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Scottsdale is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Surprise.
From a growth perspective, Surprise is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Surprise has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Surprise | Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 167,602 | 243,821 |
| Pop. Growth | 3.31% | 0.30% |
| Median Age | 41.4 | 49.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Surprise
Advantages
Ranks consistently among the top safest cities in Arizona with low violent crime rates.
Average rent and home prices remain more affordable compared to central Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Hosts Major League Baseball Spring Training at the state-of-the-art Surprise Stadium.
Median household income of $96,711 significantly outperforms the national and state averages.
Abundant sunshine with over 330 sunny days per year supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Drawbacks
High summer temperatures exceeding 106°F make outdoor activities difficult during peak afternoons.
High car dependency with limited public mass transit options within the city.
Rapid population growth has occasionally introduced traffic congestion along major commuter corridors.
Significant spike in summer electricity and cooling utility bills due to extreme desert heat.
Summer monsoon season can occasionally bring brief, intense dust storms and heavy rainfall.
Scottsdale
Advantages
Median household income stands at an affluent $110,886 per year per U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Exceptional educational attainment with over 62% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
Consistently low crime rates and high safety scores relative to other major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Access to over 300 days of sunshine annually alongside premier outdoor recreation like the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
Thriving job market anchored by healthcare, tourism, technology, and corporate business sectors.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing prices run significantly higher than the national average.
Extreme summer high temperatures averaging 106.1°F require heavy reliance on air conditioning.
High degree of car dependency outside of core walkable entertainment districts like Old Town.
Competitive real estate market makes affordable housing options scarce for middle-income earners.
Seasonal tourist influxes lead to heavy traffic congestion and crowded local amenities during peak winter months.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Surprise
#13Arizona, USA
74.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,100
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
330/yr
Avg Temp
75.10°F
Pop. Growth
3.31%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
72
Scottsdale
#305Arizona, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,930
Avg Salary
$85,000
Cost Index
118
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
51.0/100
Sunny Days
325/yr
Avg Temp
75.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.30%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
83
Business
79
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