City comparison
Phoenix, AZ vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Phoenix, AZ (103.3) and Worcester, MA (102.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ goes as far as $99,200 in Worcester, MA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,583 a month in Phoenix, AZ and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,489 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.3% moving from Phoenix, AZ to Worcester, MA ($111,338 → $120,548), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.1% in real buying power.
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Phoenix, AZ | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.3 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,232 in Worcester | $100,773 in Phoenix |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,583/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,889 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,291 (AZ) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,380 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Phoenix | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 121.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 95.0 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 104.0 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 103.3 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Phoenix, AZ → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$2,489/yr.
70 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Phoenix, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,489/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Phoenix, AZ is in the Phoenix-Mesa, AZ pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Phoenix, AZ to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Phoenix, AZ | Worcester, MA | Real change, Phoenix → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,564 | $69,905 | +9.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,117 | $84,579 | +9.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,629 | $101,375 | +9.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,338 | $120,548 | +9.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,568 | $142,452 | +9.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Phoenix, AZ | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Phoenix dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,180 | $82,810 | $83,451 (+41.0%) |
| Software Developers | $131,750 | $146,950 | $148,087 (+12.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,820 | $94,070 | $94,798 (+17.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,830 | $100,240 | $101,015 (+0.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.