Cost of living in Bullhead City, AZ

In Bullhead City, median rent is $1,192 a month, 24% below the U.S. average, and the monthly payment on a median-priced home is about $1,731 (36% below average). The average wage is $50,369 a year (32% below average). Of 29 everyday prices tracked here, 2 are above the national average.

Open the charts for Bullhead City →

The charts show each price back to 1950. Older local figures there are estimates.

How Bullhead City ranks

Among the 42 Arizona places and the 3 places in the Lake Havasu City metro with at least 20,000 people:

Housing

Measured locally: Census Bureau figures for Bullhead City, AZ.

ItemBullhead CityU.S. averageDifference
Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities$1,192$1,56024% less
Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance$1,731$2,72136% less
Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home$1,393$4,38068% less

Your paycheck

Measured locally: BLS average wages for Mohave County.

ItemBullhead CityU.S. averageDifference
SalaryAverage yearly wage$50,369$74,40032% less
Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage$3,853$5,69232% less

Getting around

Gas: EIA state or city averages. Car insurance: NAIC state averages. Parking, rides and transit passes are estimates.

ItemBullhead CityU.S. averageDifference
A monthly transit passUnlimited local bus or rail$105$1061% less
Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded$79.59$68.8516% more
15-minute Uber rideTypical UberX fare, since the 2012 launch$28.74$29.503% less
Parking, per hourDowntown meter or garage$2.23$4.0545% less
Car insuranceAverage yearly premium$1,825$1,7405% more

Food and drink

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Lake Havasu City metro.

ItemBullhead CityU.S. averageDifference
A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store$3.74$3.802% less
A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store$4.08$4.152% less
Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie$54.89$55.902% less
Cup of coffeeBrewed coffee at a café or diner$3.37$3.452% less
Pint of domestic beerAt a bar or restaurant$7.10$7.303% less
Six-pack of domestic beer12 oz cans, grocery store$11.02$11.202% less
Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968$5.98$6.051% less
Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese$13.35$13.602% less

Bills and fun

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Lake Havasu City metro, and to local wages for some services.

ItemBullhead CityU.S. averageDifference
A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes$11.27$11.552% less
A haircutBasic cut at a barber or salon$23.93$34.0030% less
A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes$8.55$8.651% less
A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate$140$16415% less
Home internet billMonthly; dial-up until the mid-2000s$76.38$77.001% less
Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package$107$1081% less
MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat$38.71$39.502% less

Health and family

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Lake Havasu City metro, and to local wages for some services.

ItemBullhead CityU.S. averageDifference
Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly$964$1,37030% less
A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public$11,705$11,8001% less
Doctor’s visit, no insuranceRoutine office visit, paid out of pocket$191$1942% less
Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share$2,217$2,2401% less
Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges$15,448$15,7002% less
A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring$28,037$34,70019% less

How these prices have changed since 1950, nationally: Daycare for one toddler · A year of public university · Family health premium · Having a baby in hospital · A wedding · A dozen eggs · A gallon of milk · Thanksgiving dinner for 10 · A movie ticket · A pack of cigarettes · A night in a hotel · Salary · Payroll tax · Big Mac · Ham & cheese sandwich groceries · Tank of gas · Car insurance · Monthly rent · Monthly mortgage payment · Property tax · Cable TV bill · MLB game ticket

Bullhead City vs nearby places

PlaceRentMortgage paymentAverage wage
Bullhead City, AZ$1,192$1,731$50,369
Lake Havasu City, AZ$1,457$3,725$50,369
Kingman, AZ$1,168$2,191$50,369
Phoenix, AZ$1,747$3,442$72,689
Tucson, AZ$1,264$2,177$60,934
Mesa, AZ$1,788$3,336$72,689
Gilbert, AZ$2,329$4,705$72,689

How these are worked out

Rent and home values are for Bullhead City, AZ; other prices are for the Lake Havasu City metro. National prices are scaled to Bullhead City using local cost levels: rent, home values and property tax bills from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, wages from the BLS, gas from the EIA, car insurance from NAIC state averages, and other goods and services from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s regional price parities. Parking has no national source and is estimated from the town’s size and density. Figures are as of September 2026. More on the method.