The cost to live in Sun Lakes is very reasonable compared with other parts of the country and other Active Adult Communities. You may find costs for Golf, Tennis and Fitness in other areas of this site. What we will be addressing here is Property Taxes, Homeowner Fees and Utilities.
Taxes run right at $8 per $1,000 of home value, so on a $200,000 homes, you could expect to pay $1,600 per year. Taxes are paid twice a year and they are pro-rated to date of close on a purchase.
Homeowner Fees run around $100 per month and are normally paid semi-annually. I use $100 per month because different Country Clubs have slightly different charges, but if you budget this, you will be very close.
Utilities, of course, vary on the size of the home and the year it was built. Pre-1988 homes had single pane windows and less insulation. Also, the utility bill will vary if you are a full-time resident or a part-time resident. Most of the utility cost is created during the summer when the air conditioner runs 95% of the time. Generally speaking, for budgetary purposes, full-time residents can budget - between heat, air, miscellaneous electrical usage, water/sewer and trash - around $200 - $225 per month. Part-time residents will probably get away with around $175 - $200 per month. Of course, this depends on how cool you want to keep your home. Most residents who make use of ceiling fans can comfortably keep their thermostat around the 80 degree mark through the summer.
Other than these expenses, I guess I should comment that our sales tax varies between 7.75% and 8.25% depending on where you are shopping. Our gasoline prices generally run lower than most of the rest of the country. And, because we have such a moderate climate through the winter months, the cost of clothing tends to be less than most other areas.
In summary, Arizona is a very reasonable place to live compared with most of the rest of the country, so why not come and Enjoy:)