Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Tucson?

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

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Tucson?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Rutland vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$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 Rutland, VT versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 1% higher in Rutland, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$893

$795

+11% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$856

$891

+4% in Tucson, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,146

+4% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,520

+26% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$242,200

+37% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$54,546

+1% in Rutland, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,760

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

34.6 yr

+13.9 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

51.7%

+1.0 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

30.2%

+2.0 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

14.7 min

22.2 min

+7.5 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

645.8

+32% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

3,973.3

3,460

+13% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

70.2°F

+25.6°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

11.6 in

+28.8 in in Rutland, VT

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)

24.4

15.2

+38% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$24.74

+5% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

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 (VT / AZ)

5.6%

+0.4 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

2.50%

+6.3 pp in VT

Rutland vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Tucson?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).