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Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in Arizona: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary really buy you in Arizona?

Arizona is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$53,870
Median annual (2025)
+0.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$53,923
COL-adjusted (RPP=99.9)

Arizona Cost of Living Index

Arizona's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 99.9, meaning prices are 0.1% lower the national average. A Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earning $53,870 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $53,923 in an average-cost US state.

AZ: 99.9
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Arizona's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $39,350 $39,389 +$39
25th Percentile (P25) $45,620 $45,665 +$45
Median (P50) $53,870 $53,923 +$53
75th Percentile (P75) $59,230 $59,289 +$59
90th Percentile (P90) $72,140 $72,212 +$72
Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $53,870 keeps most of its value at $53,923 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Arizona Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 99.9

With an RPP of 99.9, Arizona is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+0.1%

After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living, $53,870 nominal nets out to $53,924 in real purchasing power — a small 0.1% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#24 / 51

Arizona sits at #24 of 51 states for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (After Cost of Living)

Where does Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$78,513
RPP 107.6
2. Ohio
$68,590
RPP 91.5
$66,586
RPP 91.1
$65,828
RPP 109.8
$64,363
RPP 101.3
6. Nevada
$64,004
RPP 96.4
7. Indiana
$63,627
RPP 91.8
8. Alaska
$62,892
RPP 102.0
$62,114
RPP 105.0
10. Hawaii
$61,823
RPP 110.8

Arizona ranks #24 out of 51 states for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity take-home pay in Arizona after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Arizona after cost of living?

A Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Arizona earns a median salary of $53,870 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $53,923 — a +0.1% difference.

Is Arizona expensive to live in?

Arizona's cost of living is 0.1% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Arizona is 99.9 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Arizona: $53,870 x (100 / 99.9) = $53,923. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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