Living Cost Compare

Cost of Living in Tucson, AZ

Population 542,629 · Arizona

Median Rent

Studio
$795
1 Bedroom
$891
2 Bedroom
$1,146
3 Bedroom
$1,520

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$242,200

Income

Median Household Income
$54,546
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,760

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

The People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yrs
Homeownership
51.7%
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.2%
Avg Commute
22.2 min

Crime

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)
645.8
Property Crime (per 100k/yr)
3,460

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Tucson Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.2°F
Annual Precipitation
11.6 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline (West Coast (PADD 5))
$5.57/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit

Base Fare (Sun Tran)
Free

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026). Fare-free.

Utilities

Electricity
15.6¢/kWh
Natural Gas
$19.69/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
Bread (lb)
$2.10
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
Bananas (lb)
$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes (AZ)

State Sales Tax
5.60%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 2.50%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).