Phoenix, AZ vs Tucson, AZ: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Tucson, AZ is 6.2% less expensive than Phoenix, AZ (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Phoenix works out to about $70,300 in Tucson, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 24.3% less in Tucson. Goods are 1.3% higher and other services 4.0% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,488 a month in Tucson and $1,720 in Phoenix, $2,784 a year less in Tucson (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $336,000 in Tucson and $441,000 in Phoenix.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 24.3% lower in Tucson than in Phoenix
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 96.9 |
| Goods | 95.0 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 121.2 | 91.8 |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 104.0 | 99.8 |
| Category | Phoenix | Tucson | Tucson vs Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 96.9 | −6.2% |
| Goods | 95.0 | 96.2 | +1.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 121.2 | 91.8 | −24.3% |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 89.5 | −4.1% |
| Other services | 104.0 | 99.8 | −4.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,720 | $1,488 | −13.5% |
| Typical home value | $441,000 | $336,000 | −23.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Phoenix | $75,000 | $70,300 | −6.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Phoenix and Tucson has narrowed since 2008: 8.6 points then, 6.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.7 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 105.4 | 100.4 |
| 2010 | 102.7 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 100.3 | 100.1 |
| 2012 | 98.7 | 100.6 |
| 2013 | 99.5 | 98.9 |
| 2014 | 99.1 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 97.4 |
| 2016 | 100.4 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 98.9 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 99.6 | 94.8 |
| 2019 | 100.0 | 95.3 |
| 2020 | 102.8 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 99.1 | 92.8 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 93.8 |
| 2023 | 104.7 | 94.9 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 96.9 |
Goods
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.6 | 95.4 |
| 2009 | 109.1 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 101.2 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 98.7 |
| 2012 | 98.0 | 99.7 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 98.2 | 96.2 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 97.8 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 96.0 | 99.7 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 94.9 | 99.0 |
| 2020 | 101.5 | 96.5 |
| 2021 | 94.5 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 98.4 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 95.0 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.7 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 97.3 |
| 2010 | 103.0 | 97.8 |
| 2011 | 103.0 | 92.6 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 94.3 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 92.2 |
| 2014 | 101.4 | 90.8 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 100.6 | 89.9 |
| 2017 | 103.3 | 84.3 |
| 2018 | 104.4 | 89.1 |
| 2019 | 106.4 | 83.3 |
| 2020 | 111.2 | 88.2 |
| 2021 | 116.1 | 88.7 |
| 2022 | 122.8 | 91.0 |
| 2023 | 124.3 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 121.2 | 91.8 |
Utilities
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 91.9 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 93.8 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 102.6 |
| 2011 | 105.1 | 103.6 |
| 2012 | 99.0 | 106.4 |
| 2013 | 98.0 | 102.4 |
| 2014 | 98.3 | 108.0 |
| 2015 | 99.6 | 106.9 |
| 2016 | 95.7 | 100.3 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 104.7 | 89.1 |
| 2019 | 92.8 | 91.4 |
| 2020 | 89.8 | 89.9 |
| 2021 | 89.9 | 83.0 |
| 2022 | 88.2 | 84.1 |
| 2023 | 83.1 | 83.0 |
| 2024 | 93.3 | 89.5 |
Other services
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.3 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 102.7 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 103.4 | 100.2 |
| 2011 | 100.0 | 103.9 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | 100.7 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | 99.2 | 102.5 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 100.9 |
| 2016 | 102.6 | 100.4 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 101.2 |
| 2018 | 100.6 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 102.3 | 97.4 |
| 2020 | 101.7 | 94.7 |
| 2021 | 98.3 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 103.4 | 92.5 |
| 2023 | 104.5 | 93.3 |
| 2024 | 104.0 | 99.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,488 in Tucson vs $1,720 in Phoenix
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $923 | $821 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $945 | $827 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $949 | $831 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $956 | $835 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $973 | $845 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $994 | $854 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,001 | $854 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,003 | $858 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,030 | $886 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,055 | $898 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,065 | $897 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,071 | $908 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,094 | $929 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,127 | $949 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,144 | $955 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,158 | $973 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,180 | $993 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,216 | $1,011 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,235 | $1,017 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,251 | $1,035 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,276 | $1,053 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,281 | $1,055 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,327 | $1,093 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,363 | $1,128 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,411 | $1,157 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,519 | $1,219 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,633 | $1,295 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,675 | $1,335 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,706 | $1,365 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,731 | $1,389 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,727 | $1,407 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,701 | $1,395 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,719 | $1,411 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,727 | $1,437 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,725 | $1,445 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,701 | $1,444 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,717 | $1,451 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,730 | $1,463 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,726 | $1,468 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,703 | $1,465 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,721 | $1,465 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,716 | $1,471 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,703 | $1,465 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,691 | $1,451 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,706 | $1,477 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,714 | $1,484 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,720 | $1,488 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $336,000 in Tucson vs $441,000 in Phoenix
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Tucson, AZ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $209K | $174K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $214K | $176K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $219K | $178K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $226K | $180K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $232K | $182K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $234K | $183K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $238K | $185K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $241K | $188K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $245K | $196K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $249K | $198K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $254K | $200K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $258K | $203K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $263K | $205K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $268K | $207K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $274K | $212K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $278K | $216K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $283K | $219K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $286K | $223K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $289K | $227K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $295K | $232K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $305K | $236K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $312K | $238K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $321K | $246K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $339K | $260K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $358K | $272K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $388K | $289K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $417K | $306K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $438K | $319K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $463K | $330K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $493K | $348K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $490K | $352K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $465K | $346K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $447K | $338K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $448K | $340K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $456K | $346K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $460K | $350K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $463K | $350K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $466K | $353K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $463K | $354K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $461K | $351K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $456K | $348K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $451K | $345K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $446K | $342K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $446K | $340K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $447K | $340K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $443K | $338K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $441K | $336K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.