Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Salem
Phoenix and Salem
Photo: Sheila Sund / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Salem are under the US rate in this release, 2.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Salem
In 2022-2023, 152 households filed a move from Phoenix to Salem (about 239 people, average adjusted gross income $60,921). 204 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,270 in Salem. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Salem has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Salem is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Salem averages 158 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 36°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Salem 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, 152 households moved Phoenix → Salem (about 239 people, average AGI $60,921). 204 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 Salem changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,194 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,900–$5,400
- Container or pod
- $2,050–$3,800
- Rent a truck
- $1,150–$2,150
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Dig into Salem
Questions
Is Salem cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
No. Salem leaves about $557 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,270 in Salem.
Does Salem have state income tax?
Salem is in Oregon, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Salem?
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.