Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Tucson?

Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Rochester vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 38% higher in Rochester, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,080

$795

+26% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,106

$891

+19% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,243

$1,146

+8% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,646

$1,520

+8% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$287,500

$242,200

+16% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$87,767

$54,546

+38% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,620

$47,760

+21% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

34.6 yr

+1.8 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

65.4%

51.7%

+13.7 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

50.1%

30.2%

+19.9 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

17.2 min

22.2 min

+5.0 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

158.9

645.8

+306% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

1,379

3,460

+151% 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

45.4°F

70.2°F

+24.8°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

33.0 in

11.6 in

+21.4 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Minnesota vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.9

15.2

+10% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.95

$22.44

+50% 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)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Rochester, MN

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 (MN / AZ)

6.875%

5.6%

+1.3 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.85%

2.50%

+7.3 pp in MN

Rochester vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Tucson?: Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).