Phoenix vs Tucson
Phoenix, AZ · Tucson, AZ
Tucson is 14% cheaper than Phoenix overall.
Home Price
Phoenix: $420,000
Tucson: $295,000
Monthly Rent
Phoenix: $1,150/mo
Tucson: $868/mo
COL Index
Phoenix: 106
Tucson: 91
Median Income
Phoenix: $67,600
Tucson: $50,000
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Phoenix has the same purchasing power as $85,849 in Tucson — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Tucson cost 30% more (-$125,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Tucson saves you $282/month — $3,384 per year. Median rent: $1,150/mo in Phoenix vs $868/mo in Tucson.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Phoenix owners pay roughly $2,604/year in property taxes vs $1,829/year in Tucson. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,600 in Phoenix and $50,000 in Tucson. Tucson residents earn 26% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Phoenix vs 23 minutes in Tucson. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Phoenix to Tucson, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Phoenix | Equivalent in Tucson | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,925 | -$7,075 |
| $75,000 | $64,387 | -$10,613 |
| $100,000 | $85,849 | -$14,151 |
| $150,000 | $128,774 | -$21,226 |
| $200,000 | $171,698 | -$28,302 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Phoenix Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Phoenix vs Tucson: Common Questions
Is Phoenix or Tucson cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Tucson is cheaper overall. Phoenix has a COL index of 106 while Tucson scores 91 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Phoenix and Tucson?
The median home price in Phoenix is $420,000 vs $295,000 in Tucson — a difference of $125,000 (30%).
What salary do I need in Tucson to match my Phoenix income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Phoenix is equivalent to $85,849 in Tucson in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Tucson has a lower property tax rate (0.62% vs 0.62%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $1,829/year vs $2,604/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.