In 2020, Phoenix is the most populous city of Arizona with around 1.6million people. This city known as the Valley of the Sun is the 5th most populous city in the country.
Popular for its year-round sun with at least 300 days of sunny weather, it boasts of desert beauty, world-class resorts and golf, sophisticated urban escapes, southwest culture and lots of opportunities for an outdoor adventure. Both local and tourists enjoy all these features of the city.
Phoenix is also known as a retirement paradise for all its essentials for a happy and well-rounded life. Looking to move to a new city? Whether you are a yuppie or retiring from your job, Phoenix might the best choice for you to settle and here are some of the reasons why.
Attractive Urban Lifestyle
Coffee lovers will surely enjoy Phoenix. It is a perfect place where the choices range from hipster nooks to posh cafes, such as the Bad Coffee of Hawaii which was born in 1989. Drive-thrus and on-the-go services are a big deal in the city because of the convenience they give to people who simply want to get their quick somethings. There’s also a diverse nightlife from dive bars to upscale lounges, serving various types of customers – from those who are into Jazz to those who favor country-western line dancing.
Abundant Outdoors
In need of adrenaline rush? Phoenix has desert, mountains and rivers for a lot of types and kinds of outdoor activities. The city’s landscape is built for outdoor play where there’s always an ample space to go biking, climbing, hiking, river rafting or even hot-air balloon riding.
Diverse Cuisine
Phoenix is one of the western towns which is why its earliest restaurants were often steakhouses. But nowadays, the city boasts of cuisines from all over the world, from ancient to newer cuisines. There’s a bakery in Glendale that offers an all-star line-up of Mexican baked goodies, bacon-wrapped Sonoran hot dogs in 35th Ave, the old-school Machaca in Buckeye Rd, and the best of the desert’s seasonal bounty in one dish in Wild Horse Pass Blvd. The recent population boom that brought people from all over the nation and from other countries has influenced the local cuisine.
Affordable Cost of Living
With a cost of living significantly lower than the US average, it won’t cost you an arm and leg to live comfortably in Phoenix. Costs vary significantly across the state but many communities offer surprisingly affordable living. Grocery is 3% lower and health is surprisingly 8% lower than the national, although housing is 4% higher.
Renting is popular in Phoenix with 36% of the households are renter-occupied. For people who might be better off renting, check out Zumper first for better understanding. According to their data, there was a 21% increase in the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment compared last year. Data from the same site also shows that the average rent for a studio apartment in Phoenix increased by 4% while the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment and a 2-bedroom apartment remained the same over the past month.
Apart from Phoenix’ biggest and grandest festivals, it also highlights a good and stable economy, which is a major advantage for those looking for a place or a city to relocate. The presence of these big-time businesses which are included in Fortune 500 companies such as Avnet, an electronics corporation; Freeport-McMoRan, a mining company; PetSmart, and Republic Services, a waste hauler, has major contributions in Phoenix’s thriving economy. Indeed, the Valley of the Sun’s stable and good economic situation amidst the rising challenges is enticing to anyone looking for a great city to dwell.