City comparison
Yes. Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Phoenix and Colorado Springs are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,648 in Colorado Springs, and median household income lands at $81,332 versus $84,818. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Phoenix is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Phoenix is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Phoenix and Colorado Springs are 549 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $66 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $3,486 (4%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 26 points (15%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Phoenix are 549 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $66 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $81,332 in Phoenix, down $3,486 (4%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 174 in Phoenix, down 26 points (13%).
Phoenix, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Phoenix and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 4% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Phoenix is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $66, or $792 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 4% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
$81,332
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $81,332 in Phoenix, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Colorado Springs (about $3,486 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
13% lower crime
Phoenix's crime index is 13% lower than Colorado Springs
Phoenix
Winner174 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Phoenix. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Phoenix, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Colorado Springs. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Phoenix weather is 25% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Phoenix
Winner80°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Phoenix averages about 80°F (86°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Phoenix sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Phoenix scores 25% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Phoenix if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (80°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 25%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Phoenix is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Phoenix is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Colorado Springs (174 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,582/month rent in Phoenix at 80°F versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs at 58°F. Income runs $81,332 vs $84,818, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Phoenix rent at $1,582/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $81,332 in Phoenix.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Phoenix; Colorado Springs only makes sense when 58°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Phoenix when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in AZ and CO.
