New report shows housing costs driving up cost of living in Arizona
while Hobbs does nothing to address affordability
GILBERT, AZ—A new report shows Arizona ranked 45th in the nation for affordability, another sign of Katie Hobbs’ failure to address rising costs for Arizonans who are struggling under her policies. The report, commissioned by the Common Sense Institute Arizona, highlighted rising housing costs as the key driver for the state’s poor ranking for affordability.
According to KTAR 92.3 FM:
“CSI found that Grand Canyon State households paid $19,300 more for six essential categories — shelter/utilities, groceries, health insurance, car insurance, gas and child care — in 2025 than they did in 2019. That’s nearly $4,000 more than the national average increase.
“We used to be about middle of the pack when it came to affordability, and you hear that from people all the time: ‘I came here because this was an affordable place to live,’” said Katie Ratlief, Executive Director of the Common Sense Institute Arizona.”
Congressman Andy Biggs offered the following X post in response to Arizona’s poor showing on affordability:
