Miami or Phoenix: which is better?

US metro area: head-to-head comparison

Miami
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
4
indicators ahead
Phoenix
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
4
indicators ahead

Miami and Phoenix are even: 4 : 4 across 11 indicators.

  • Money: Phoenix 1:3
  • Climate and risks: Miami 3:1

All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.

Miami
Phoenix

Money

Better: Phoenix (1 : 3)
Per capita income
higher is better
✓$89,115
202427% higher
✗$70,055
202421% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$2,654
2026-09-3054% higher
✓$1,720
2026-09-3035% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$476,815
2026-09-308% higher
✓$441,097
2026-09-307% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗114.2 100 = US average
202411% higher
✓103.3 100 = US average
202410% lower

Climate and risks

Better: Miami (3 : 1)
Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓51 AQI
202441% lower
✗86 AQI
202469% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓4 days per year
202496% lower
✗114 days per year
20242750% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓191 days per year
2016-20257% lower
✗206 days per year
2016-20258% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
32 °C·days per year
2016-2025
384 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,045 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,923 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
101 days per year
2016-2025
23 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,399 mm per year
2016-2025
156 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
10.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
10.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
13.8 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
73 %
2021-2025
30 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗234 days per year
2021-20253151% higher
✓7 days per year
2021-202597% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1 km
2006-2025
261 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025

Urban environment

no winner
Population
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
6,457,988 people
2024
5,186,958 people
2024

A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Miami, Phoenix.

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