salaryRent is higher than in 76% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.2 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.2 minutes each way. Most homes (79.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $88,120 a year. That is $42 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Arizona cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Arizona. It is number 77 of 93 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Surprise?
Share of households by yearly income. 32.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Surprise
| Size | Surprise | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,736 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,782 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,057 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,214 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,593 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Surprise overall?
Everyday prices in Arizona overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 100.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Surprise, so the Arizona figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Surprise
Life in Surprise
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Surprise?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $816 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $435,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $43,510 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Surprise, AZ?
Renting in Surprise costs a median of about $2,203 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Arizona median is $1,671.
How much do I need to make to live in Surprise?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $88,120 a year, or $42 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Surprise cheap or expensive?
Surprise is rated OK: rent takes 25.3% of the typical household income of $104,303. It ranks 77th cheapest of 93 Arizona cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Surprise?
The median homeowner in Surprise pays $1,842 a year in property taxes, about 0.42% of the median home value.
Is Surprise more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Arizona are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Surprise?
The median home value in Surprise is $435,100, about 4.2 times the typical yearly household income.
154,948 people live in Surprise. Numbers are typical (middle) values.