City profile
Tucson, AZ cost of living
AZ · BLS RPP 93.8
Overall RPP
93.8
US = 100
Housing RPP
91.1
Housing component
Goods RPP
97.5
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,337/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Tucson, AZ sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#51 of 67
-6.2 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-4.6
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#46 of 67
-269/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Tucson, AZ
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Tucson, AZ metro.
Moved in
39,878
people · 23,610 households
Moved out
36,351
people · 21,473 households
Net
+3,527
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#23 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+3,631
median -104 people
Largest flow share
12% in / 14% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Maricopa County, AZ 4,815
- Pinal County, AZ 1,434
- Cochise County, AZ 1,367
- Los Angeles County, CA 1,152
- San Diego County, CA 1,036
Where residents moved to
- Maricopa County, AZ 5,212
- Pinal County, AZ 1,518
- Cochise County, AZ 1,254
- Santa Cruz County, AZ 1,048
- San Diego County, CA 661
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Tucson, AZ?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Tucson, AZ | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,900 | $50,000 x (93.8/100) |
| $75,000 | $70,350 | $75,000 x (93.8/100) |
| $100,000 | $93,800 | $100,000 x (93.8/100) |
| $125,000 | $117,250 | $125,000 x (93.8/100) |
| $150,000 | $140,700 | $150,000 x (93.8/100) |
| $200,000 | $187,600 | $200,000 x (93.8/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Arizona flat income tax 2.5%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Tucson, AZ?
- Tucson, AZ has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 93.8 (US average = 100). It is 6.2% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Tucson, AZ?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $93,800 in Tucson, AZ to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Tucson, AZ?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Tucson, AZ is approximately $1,337 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Tucson, AZ?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 39,878 people moved into the Tucson, AZ metro and 36,351 moved out — a net gain of roughly 3,527 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Maricopa County, AZ.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Tucson, AZ, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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