When it comes to affordability, Phoenix is a great option compared to other metropolitan cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and New York City. In fact, living in Phoenix is much more affordable than in places like Los Angeles and Sacramento, California. According to Payscale, the cost of living in Phoenix is 5 percent lower than the national average. Plus, Arizona State University (ASU) has campuses in Phoenix and Tempe, as well as 14 nationally ranked top 10 graduate programs.
The current population of Phoenix is almost 1.8 million people and the metropolitan population of Phoenix is approximately 5 million people. There are many James Beard winners and nominees who work in Phoenix and have restaurants in Phoenix. For family fun, there's Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix with attractions and play areas such as the Bahama Blaster, Splash Island and a whitewater rafting experience, Big Kahuna. If you're into music or the arts, downtown Phoenix has several theaters, ballet, symphony.
The state of Arizona has mostly returned to its pre-pandemic state, which is great news for job seekers and prospective Phoenix residents. It's also important to note that most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time to ensure that the nights are cool enough for activities. Phoenix's labor market is diverse with its largest companies spread across several industries such as aerospace, financial services, healthcare, and more. Plus, there are plenty of fun things to do in Phoenix like cheering on the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) at Talking Stick Resort Arena or visiting iconic hiking destinations like Camelback Mountain.
When it comes to food, you can try top-notch comfort food like beef rib stew at The Arrogant Butcher in downtown Phoenix - considered one of the best restaurants in Phoenix. And don't forget about suburban Phoenix which offers additional attractions that Phoenix residents generally recognize as part of the city.
