Relocation profile · Federal data
Flagstaff, AZ
LiveAbility 32.9/100 places Flagstaff #360 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 100.3
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,921
- 2BR rent / mo
- $66,006
- Median salary
- 32.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Flagstaff ranks #360 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (32.9/100), with its strongest marks in low hazard and job market.
- #360
- of 387 US metros · Well below median
- 7,582,384
- metro-area population
- 429
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 2,186
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (3/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Flagstaff ranks #360 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 100.3 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,921/mo, median salary $66,006; LiveAbility Score 32.9/100, strongest in low hazard and job market.
Signature: LiveAbility 32.9/100 places Flagstaff #360 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 100.3 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,921/mo.
LiveAbility 32.9/100 puts Flagstaff in the bottom third (#360 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Flagstaff area is 58,590.
Flagstaff vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
33 Top 93% higher than 7% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Flagstaff housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Flagstaff MSA; housing RPP 109.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,921/mo.
Flagstaff wages and employment
Flagstaff posts 58,590 total employment with median salary $66,006 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,690 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,080 |
| General and Operations Managers | $77,740 |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,440 |
| Cashiers | $35,810 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Flagstaff area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Flagstaff area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Flagstaff's composite Life Score is 39.6/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Flagstaff ranks #360 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 32.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Flagstaff - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Low hazard
Low hazard
80 /100
- Job market
Job market
59 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
37 /100
- Schools
Schools
34 /100
- Safety 22
Safety
22 /100
- Cost of living 21
Cost of living
21 /100
- Housing 11
Housing
11 /100
- Climate 3
Climate
3 /100
What this shows Flagstaff's strongest dimensions are low hazard and job market; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 3/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Flagstaff to
Metros near Flagstaff on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Flagstaff on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Flagstaff cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Flagstaff wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Flagstaff?
Flagstaff runs a $66,006 median salary at a 100.3 cost index, ranking #360 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Flagstaff's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Flagstaff head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Flagstaff
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.