Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Champaign
Phoenix and Champaign
Photo: Cubbie15fan / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Champaign are close to the US rate in this release, 6.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Champaign
In 2022-2023, 53 households filed a move from Phoenix to Champaign (about 100 people, average adjusted gross income $74,415). 57 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $897 in Champaign. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Champaign has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Champaign is 87% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Champaign averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 83°F and January nights around 24°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 18 minutes in Champaign and 26 in Phoenix.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 53 households moved Phoenix → Champaign (about 100 people, average AGI $74,415). 57 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Champaign changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,678 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,450–$6,450
- Container or pod
- $2,450–$4,600
- Rent a truck
- $1,450–$2,750
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Dig into Champaign
Questions
Is Champaign cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
Yes. Champaign leaves about $386 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $897 in Champaign.
Does Champaign have state income tax?
Champaign is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Champaign?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.