Living Cost Compare
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Overland Park, KS versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $103,838 in Overland Park, KS and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 47% higher in Overland Park, KS. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Overland Park, KS
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,270
$795
+37% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$1,224
$891
+27% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,589
$1,146
+28% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,828
$1,520
+17% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$384,400
$242,200
+37% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$103,838
$54,546
+47% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$47,760
+6% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
34.6 yr
+4.0 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
61.5%
51.7%
+9.8 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
62.9%
30.2%
+32.7 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.2 min
+2.3 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
188.4
645.8
+243% in Tucson, AZ
Property Crime
1,790.5
3,460
+93% 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
55.2°F
70.2°F
+15.0°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
40.0 in
11.6 in
+28.4 in in Overland Park, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.21/gal
+35% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.7
15.2
+3% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.12
$24.74
+2% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Tucson, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Tucson, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Tucson, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / AZ)
6.5%
5.6%
+0.9 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
5.58%
2.50%
+3.1 pp in KS

Overland Park vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Tucson?
Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).