Cost of living index

Tucson, AZ

96.9 / 100

Living in Tucson, AZ is 3.1% cheaper than the US average — the #131 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,154/mo

Median home value: $286,900

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Tucson, AZ metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

66° / 41°F

(19° / 5°C)

2.8 in precip

Spring

83° / 53°F

(28° / 12°C)

1.1 in precip

Summer

99° / 73°F

(37° / 23°C)

4.6 in precip

Fall

85° / 58°F

(29° / 14°C)

2.6 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from TUCSON 11 W, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Tucson, AZ

The Tucson, AZ metro area has an overall price level of 96.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 3.1% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 91.8 it is 8.2% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#131 of 387

96.9

Goods#231 of 387

96.2

Housing rents#131 of 387

91.8

Utilities#173 of 387

89.5

Other services#83 of 387

99.8

Tucson, AZ is moved down the most by utilities, at 89.5 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

How Tucson, AZ compares

Other metros in Arizona

Flagstaff, AZ100.3 Lake Havasu City, AZ94.1 Phoenix, AZ103.3 Prescott Valley, AZ98.3 Sierra Vista, AZ89.2 Yuma, AZ92.7

Browse Arizona →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Tucson, AZ an expensive place to live?

Tucson, AZ has an overall cost-of-living index of 96.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 3.1% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Tucson, AZ?

Housing rents in Tucson, AZ score 91.8 against a US average of 100 — roughly 8.2% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Tucson, AZ compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Tucson, AZ sit at 96.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 91.8. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.