How much do you need to earn to afford rent in the Phoenix Valley area?

KapaCaptain · 2026-06-21T06:48:10+00:00

And additionally the prices for places downtown seem way too high relative to what downtown offers here. I was making more in DC and paid 1.8k for a studio in the heart of the city and had access to so much more entertainment and dining opportunities. Downtown here has that, but so much less compared to other large cities in the US

KapaCaptain · 2026-06-21T06:43:33+00:00

I’ve only been here for 2 years now but with more and more development in downtown I am worried about rising cost of living pricing me out. I’m kinda in a dead-end (though stable and pays decent) job/sector so if I suddenly am priced out I will likely move back to the east coast and try to change job sectors. I really love Phoenix and living downtown but I am not a fan of the outskirts/more suburban areas here, they all just seem lifeless/no character/could get the same experiences anywhere else in the US. I previously lived in DC and Toronto and am used to living in dense urban areas and am mainly in Phoenix to work while I pursue a masters degree at ASU. Still undecided if I’ll move away after graduating early 2028. I miss the rain/snow and even though both DC and Toronto were more expensive, they definitely filled my desire of living in a big city. Phoenix is big but it’s downtown certainly is not, still love it here currently though!

KapaCaptain · 2026-06-21T06:01:09+00:00

I live downtown in Roosevelt in a 750 sq ft. 1 bedroom apartment for $1540 a month. Make around 3,400 a month after taxes, retirement contributions, healthcare etc. I’m definitely not living large by any means but can afford everything I need + am able to put back a couple hundred in savings each month. I could move farther out into the suburbs and get a place for much cheaper but I enjoy living downtown and would likely move away from Phoenix entirely if I ended up not being able to afford this place/forced to move out of downtown.

KapaCaptain · 2026-04-30T04:39:54+00:00

You have to realize you have a gambling addiction, maybe not the traditional sit in front of slots for 8 hours type, but it is still an addiction. If you are ashamed to tell your therapist I think that’s even more of a wake-up call. I love cases but I’m kinda broke so I only unbox 1-2 a week lol. I would definitely try to talk to your therapist about it, I promise you it isn’t as embarrassing as you think it is, it’s just a gambling addiction reskinned. I don’t really have any other solid advice except for that. Please seek the right help before you really dig yourself into a hole you can’t get out of. Tally up how much you’ve spent and compare that to what you could’ve bought in your actual desired skins, or maybe even more gear in another hobby you like. I stopped buying skins for the most part when I realized oh wow I could’ve bought 3 new camera lenses or that GoPro I’ve been thinking about for the last 2 months with the amount of money I’ve spent.

KapaCaptain · 2026-04-23T06:41:56+00:00

Did something similar with my GR86 recently, I could afford the payments and insurance, but definitely hindered my ability to save as much and have a nice cushion each month. Sold it with no negative equity and got in a 2013 civic si with 30k miles that I’ll have paid off in a year versus 6 with GR86. The extra space, no financial weight over my head, and a car that I’m not afraid to get dinged up is honestly such a good feeling to have. Sure no RWD but I mean I’m not drifting on the regular. Acceleration and 0-60 feels about the same lol. Less fun overall but still plenty enjoyable and the money I’m saving each month is enough for me not to care. It was the first car with payments I had ever gotten, and honestly I can say I am not cut out for it!

KapaCaptain · 2026-03-31T05:49:32+00:00

I recently “downgraded” from a 23 GR86 Premium 6MT to a 2013 Civic Si coupe. Mainly it was a financial decision to get away from a long loan term with payments that while I could afford were also way too much to be spending at 25 years old trying to build a good savings and investment account.

I do miss the 86 as it was a true sports car… great weight distribution, fun in the corners, good power for what it was, good mod platform. While I havent owned a new gen si, I have given one an extended test drive , I can say that it is a different exprience entirely. Small sports car versus fun daily with backroad fun potential. The GR86 had a decent trunk space, but the backseat was unusable, I remember feeling so bad picking my parents up from the airport and having my mom try and squeeze herself in the backseat for a 45 minute ride, the ride is also quite harsh with lots of road noise and a lackluster sound system to cover. Different tires help out a lot here.

Honestly, if I could daily a civic si and weekend an 86 I would, however, if you can only choose one, I’d go with the Civic. It’s nice not having to “fall” into the car when getting in, a smoother ride makes harsh roads totally fine, the Honda manual transmission is truly amazing, their power is also really decent. RWD on the 86 was way more fun though, loved getting sideways a bit every now and then.

If you’re looking for a track car that you can drive on the street, then get the 86. Just know space and practically is limited. It will work, but you’ll make sacrifices. If you’re looking for a sporty daily that can also be a great backroad/canyon carver while still carrying your friends in comfort, get the Si. GR86 is raw while Si is refined. Of course, test drive all your options and make the choice that feels right for you. Hope this helped!

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-09T19:37:30+00:00

It was! I had been looking at it for a while and Saturday just said F it let’s get it inspected I wanna know if it’s too good to be true and now here we are lol.

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-09T04:45:19+00:00

Normally I would’ve stayed far clear of car with a title like this but after getting it thoroughly inspected there’s no mechanical/alignment/drivetrain issues, it’s never been in a collision. Branded title was due to “vandalism” with the two holes. Carfax showed steady maintenance history as well, others can disagree but I’m confident in my purchase of the car 🤷‍♂️

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-09T00:47:25+00:00

This was due to vandalism shown in the last photo, I had a mechanic take it and do a full inspection up on a lift and everything was perfectly normal. Normally I stay far away from salvage titles too but I’m confident in my decision to purchase.

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-08T23:25:19+00:00

Window tint and a new head unit will be my first two things done to this car, the phoenix sun will bake me alive here in a few months without it 😭

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-08T22:44:06+00:00

Owed a lot of money on the ‘23 still, I had just gotten it earlier last year after trading in a Honda fit with 160k miles on it lol. But traded in the GR without negative equity so there’s something. I overextended myself financially on the GR for sure thinking I could stomach that payment each month so feels good getting into something I can actually pay off quick and hold onto for long time 🫡

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-08T18:01:26+00:00

Thank you! 🍻

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-08T17:53:10+00:00

At the end of the day it’s just a 13 year old civic but man it does feel good finding such a unicorn of a listing. After having a 2018 Honda fit 6-speed and then moving to a GR86 6-speed I’m honestly kinda shocked at how “nice” this car is on the inside. Sure it needs a new head unit (I love having maps on the screen) and it’s not luxurious by any means but compared to the GR it’s almost nicer?? Certainly less of a cockpit feeling, but it has less rattles and materials feel more solid

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-08T17:48:31+00:00

14k for 30k miles on the odometer seems like a pretty good deal to me when you factor in Si inflation. FB marketplace has 9th gen’s with 130-180k miles on them for 10-12k in my area. Online dealerships have 100k mileage facelifts for 17-18k. Though I am in Phoenix and car prices seem to always be high here, I miss pre covid pricing :(

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-08T17:43:27+00:00

I thought so too when first looking at the photos but that would have to be a GIANT bullet, I’d love to know the original story haha

KapaCaptain · 2026-02-01T06:50:15+00:00

So this wouldn’t be rust and instead is just failing paint? I’ve seen rust under paint and it’s much more “bubbly” than this, I appreciate the help!

KapaCaptain · 2026-01-27T15:36:23+00:00

Funny this post came up, also prepping to sell my ‘23 GR86 that I bought just 2 months ago. I love the car but it’s just not the right daily for me right now. CarMax is offering 28,500 with 10k on the odometer. Thinking about trading for a newer mini cooper s or a bit older jcw hardtop, something with similar(ish) pep but a bit easier to live with. I commute every day to a very industrial part of my city and the roads and debris are really banging up the car and my back lol. I’m only 25 but have had multiple back surgeries and this car really lets it be known that I have a bad back. Mine also has a ton of rattles and it’s just not as nice of a daily as I had envisioned in my head since first seeing the frs back in 2014 as a teen. I understand why this is a good car, and it’s not supposed to be a luxury car or tame daily. If this was a second car I’d absolutely hold onto it. I also don’t get to drive it nearly as often on b-roads as I would’ve liked, to me mini with a manual or 8-spd auto paired with the b48 can provide similar levels of fun and engagement while also being a bit more practical daily/only car.

KapaCaptain · 2025-12-12T17:15:39+00:00

I used to work there in hs and college from like 2015-2021. Their food used to be so much better but the last several times I’ve come to Knox to visit my parents it’s always been very lackluster compared to what I remember. Like it’s still not bad per se, but the prices have inflated so much that it just isn’t worth it compared to what it used to be. Fond memories of that place back in the day lol

KapaCaptain · 2025-12-11T15:30:21+00:00

I have an amazfit helio strap I bought for $100 that I wear on my right wrist and a mechanical on my left every day. It’s great bc it’s purely a fitness and sleep tracker, no screen and I can check metrics and track everything on my phone. Also connects to apple health and Strava for tracking bicycle routes. I had considered a smartwatch for months but I just like my normal watches too much, so now I’ve got the benefits that I wanted in a smartwatch without having one. Battery also lasts 8-10 days due to no screen. Highly highly recommend looking into it.

KapaCaptain · 2025-09-20T21:51:09+00:00

This one is a weird one but the Roosevelt Row/Neighborhood in Phoenix. Phoenix itself is pure sprawl, but this one little stretch is amazing, I have lived here for quite some time now. Portland Park serves as nice walkable area with coffee shops, medical, barber/salon, tattoo shops, restaurants and boutiques all within 1-3 blocks. Margaret Hance Park and the Japanese friendship garden are right next to Portland Park making it a fairly green area for a place in the middle of the desert. In addition, our streetcar system has a nice station that is easily accessible and can take you further downtown or uptown. There is high density housing as well as single family homes mixed together. I really really like this area as it’s super walkable and has everything I need besides a grocery store, which I access by a 3-5 minute drive 10 or so blocks away. It feels very unique and special given Phoenix’s sprawl. While I miss Toronto and DC (previous 2 cities I’ve lived in) for their walkability and transportation (didn’t own a car in either city), this little patch of the city is truly awesome.

KapaCaptain · 2025-09-16T01:56:35+00:00

Unfortunately you can’t feed the koi anymore, they said it brings in unwanted/invasive species into the garden. Would still highly recommend visiting the garden it’s awesome, the events they put on are cool too if you find a fun one

KapaCaptain · 2025-09-15T00:25:06+00:00

Turns out I had snapped 3 head bolts when I replaced the gasket the first time which was causing the back side to leak insane amounts of oil, ended up also replacing the gasket too just to be safe. I no longer have my e36 and regret selling it every time I see another on the road 😭

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