Living Cost Compare
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $65,745 in Spokane, WA and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 17% higher in Spokane, WA. Washington has no state income tax 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.

Spokane, WA
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$884
$795
+10% in Spokane, WA
1 Bedroom
$903
$891
+1% in Spokane, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,146
+4% in Spokane, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,442
$1,520
+5% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$326,200
$242,200
+26% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,745
$54,546
+17% in Spokane, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,660
$47,760
+13% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
34.6 yr
+2.6 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
58.3%
51.7%
+6.6 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.6%
30.2%
+2.4 pp in Spokane, WA
Avg Commute
21.2 min
22.2 min
+1.0 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
683.6
645.8
+6% in Spokane, WA
Property Crime
4,931.8
3,460
+30% in Spokane, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
48.9°F
70.2°F
+21.3°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
17.8 in
11.6 in
+6.2 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.12/gal
$5.09/gal
+1% in Spokane, WA

Area: Washington vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
15.2
+2% in Tucson, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.41
$22.44
+10% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / AZ)
6.5%
5.6%
+0.9 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
2.50%
+2.5 pp in AZ

Spokane vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or Tucson?
They're close. Spokane, WA runs about $1,070 a month and Tucson, AZ about $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Spokane than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Spokane or Tucson?
Spokane is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax 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).