Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Augusta, GA's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Tucson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Tucson?

Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Augusta vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Augusta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 3% higher in Tucson, AZ. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Augusta, GA

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$784

$795

+1% in Tucson, AZ

1 Bedroom

$916

$891

+3% in Augusta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,035

$1,146

+11% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,230

$1,520

+24% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$162,900

$242,200

+49% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$53,134

$54,546

+3% in Tucson, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,990

$47,760

+4% in Tucson, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

34.6 yr

+0.3 yr in Augusta, GA

Homeownership

50.9%

51.7%

+0.8 pp in Tucson, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.2%

30.2%

+6.0 pp in Tucson, AZ

Avg Commute

20.6 min

22.2 min

+1.6 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

546.7

645.8

+18% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

3,652

3,460

+5% in Augusta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.2°F

70.2°F

+5.0°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

46.5 in

11.6 in

+34.9 in in Augusta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Tucson, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Sun Tran (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.8

15.2

+4% in Augusta, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.28

$22.44

+33% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Augusta, GA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Tucson, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tucson, AZ

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / AZ)

5.6%

+1.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

2.50%

+2.7 pp in GA

Augusta vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Augusta, GA's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Tucson?: Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).