Cost of Living in Sierra Vista, AZ
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Sierra Vista, AZ to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Sierra Vista, AZ vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.2 | −10.8% |
| Housing | 61.9 | −38.1% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 91.9 | −8.1% |
| Other services | 99.8 | −0.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Sierra Vista, AZ
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $887 | $35,480/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,111 | $44,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,257 | $50,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,748 | $69,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,109 | $84,360/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Sierra Vista, AZ
- Federal income tax$3,466
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,917
- Medicare (1.45%)$682
- Arizona income tax$968
- Take-home pay$39,017
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Sierra Vista, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $118,120 | $89,183 | $99,933 |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $108,350 | $82,554 | $92,505 |
| Registered Nurse | $85,380 | $66,969 | $75,041 |
| General and Operations Manager | $78,740 | $62,464 | $69,993 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $54,970 | $45,183 | $50,629 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,980 | $39,741 | $44,531 |
| Office Clerks, General | $40,400 | $33,840 | $37,919 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $39,460 | $33,108 | $37,099 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,120 | $31,287 | $35,058 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $36,530 | $30,827 | $34,543 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,020 | $28,873 | $32,354 |
| Retail Salesperson | $33,140 | $28,188 | $31,586 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $32,400 | $27,612 | $30,940 |
| Cashier | $31,570 | $26,966 | $30,216 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $30,580 | $26,195 | $29,353 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sierra Vista, AZ expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area are 89.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 61.9%. It is the #306 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Sierra Vista, AZ?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,546 in Sierra Vista, AZ (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,050.
How much is rent in Sierra Vista, AZ?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Sierra Vista, AZ are $887 for a studio, $1,111 for one bedroom, $1,257 for two bedrooms and $1,748 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Sierra Vista, AZ
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $78,740
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $118,120
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $47,980
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $32,400
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $85,380
Protective Service Occupations
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $108,350
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $54,970
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,020
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,580
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $33,140
- Cashier — $31,570
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $40,400
- Customer Service Representative — $37,120
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $39,460
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,530