Cost of Living in Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Tucson, AZ to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Tucson, AZ?
With a price level of 96.9 (U.S. average = 100), Tucson, AZ is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 8% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 10% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Tucson, AZ vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.9 | −3.1% |
| Housing | 91.8 | −8.2% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 89.5 | −10.5% |
| Other services | 99.8 | −0.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Tucson, AZ
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $967 | $38,680/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,081 | $43,240/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,402 | $56,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,950 | $78,000/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,245 | $89,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Tucson, AZ
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Tucson, AZ | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,800 | $32,595 |
| $60,000 | $58,100 | $47,620 |
| $80,000 | $77,500 | $61,623 |
| $100,000 | $96,900 | $74,785 |
| $150,000 | $145,300 | $107,155 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Arizona 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Tucson, AZ's median wage of $47,760 takes home about $3,297 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,081, which is 33% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,216 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Tucson, AZ
- Federal income tax$3,551
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,961
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Arizona income tax$985
- Take-home pay$39,570
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Tucson, AZ
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Arizona cities
Half of Arizona’s 3,239,430 workers earn less than $50,060 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $38,160–$77,830 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Sierra Vista, AZ stretches a paycheck furthest, while Lake Havasu City, AZ is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $51,380 | 103.3 | $1,583 | 45% | $1,949 | $41,028 |
| Tucson, AZ | $47,760 | 96.9 | $1,081 | 33% | $2,216 | $40,838 |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | $46,330 | 98.3 | $1,309 | 41% | $1,896 | $39,140 |
| Yuma, AZ | $44,170 | 92.7 | $1,053 | 34% | $2,012 | $39,669 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $47,500 | 100.3 | $1,727 | 53% | $1,554 | $39,240 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | $44,230 | 94.1 | $1,060 | 35% | $2,008 | $39,131 |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | $47,050 | 89.2 | $1,111 | 34% | $2,140 | $43,720 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Tucson, AZ vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 96.9 | $1,081 | $47,760 | 389,630 |
| Boise City, ID | 98.4 | $1,369 | $49,100 | 391,790 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | $1,630 | $49,150 | 394,170 |
| Columbia, SC | 93.7 | $1,139 | $46,430 | 394,200 |
| Allentown, PA | 100.0 | $1,365 | $48,990 | 377,180 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | $1,092 | $51,820 | 404,130 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 106.9 | $2,100 | $61,470 | 404,180 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tucson, AZ expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Tucson, AZ metro area are 96.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 91.8%. It is the #131 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Tucson, AZ?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,138 in Tucson, AZ (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,760.
Can you afford Tucson, AZ on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,760 median wage takes home about $3,297 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,081 would take 33% of that.
How much is rent in Tucson, AZ?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Tucson, AZ are $967 for a studio, $1,081 for one bedroom, $1,402 for two bedrooms and $1,950 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Tucson, AZ
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $83,610
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,320
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $123,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $50,940
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $47,220
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,980
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $94,110
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $44,380
- Nursing Assistant — $42,560
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,420
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $36,250
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,200
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,260
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,690
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,840
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,180
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $33,820
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,360
- Retail Salesperson — $34,530
- Cashier — $32,780
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $59,440
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,150
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $45,030
- Office Clerks, General — $43,920
- Customer Service Representative — $40,090
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $37,040
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $45,060
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,600
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,640
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,940
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,960