Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Tucson?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 41% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$795

+29% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$891

+36% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,146

+33% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,520

+22% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$242,200

+35% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$54,546

+41% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$47,760

+16% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

34.6 yr

+5.1 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

51.7%

+4.7 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

30.2%

+10.3 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

22.2 min

+3.1 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

645.8

+292% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

1,269

3,460

+173% in Tucson, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.2°F

70.2°F

+21.0°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

11.6 in

+33.0 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/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)

27.0

15.2

+44% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$24.74

+14% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / AZ)

None

5.6%

+5.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Nashua vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Tucson?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).