Cost of Living and Inflation in Phoenix, Arizona: What do you need to know?

Housing/rent in the Alhambra neighborhood is cheap but it is not the safest part of town.

As a whole, the food scene is pretty good. From the east coast originally and I have to say that the Mexican food in Phoenix is way way better than the food on the east coast. The cost of living here is higher than you would think. Also Phoenix uses a special blend of gasoline that is costly so gas prices are a little high around here. I am not an Arizona native so I feel I can be blunt.

It gets really hot in Phoenix and I would suggest a windshield sun shade for your car when it’s parked.

We have very hot summers, however the people are warm and friendly. Phoenix has a poverty rate of about 33 percent fueled by high rates of alcoholism and drug addiction. Many areas are undergoing gentrification, so it is not unusual to see nice homes right across the street from smaller shack like houses. Downtown Phoenix creates an even greater puzzle; expensive luxury high rise apartments looking down on homeless people sleeping under benches.

For one, this is Phoenix, Arizona. It is hot, dry and it is always very bright out. Good housing at a decent price is difficult to find here and there are a lot of homeless people walking around. It isn’t always their fault though, some of them have mental illnesses that are not getting treated correctly.