Home › AZ › Tucson, AZ Cost of living in Tucson, AZ Livability score 70 · cost-of-living index 94.9 (US = 100)
How Tucson compares Where Tucson falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 95 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 95 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $344k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $344k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $186 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $186 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.84% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.84% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 430 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 430 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 104° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 104° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 41° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 41° Map of Tucson Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 94.9 metro-area #92 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.8 metro-area #114 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.40 metro-area #91 of 200 Median household income $64,323 metro-area #142 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $35,472 metro-area #167 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.7 years metro-area #134 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 35.9% metro-area #70 of 200 Foreign-born residents 11.9% metro-area #60 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 64.8% metro-area #120 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.87% metro-area #147 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.5% metro-area #108 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $343,580 metro-area #98 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.3× metro-area #126 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -2.1% metro-area #177 of 200 Price per square foot $186 metro-area #98 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,850 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,473 metro-area #70 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 5,168 Median days on market 33 metro-area #160 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.5% state #65 of 200 Combined sales tax 8.38% state #135 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 2.50% Capital gains tax 2.50% state #45 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.84% metro-area #95 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,161 metro-area #73 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.5 years metro-area #100 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,300 state #17 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 11.3% metro-area #141 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 87 metro-area #47 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,500 state #128 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $260 state #171 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.68% of value (~$470/yr) state #165 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in Phoenix and Tucson metro areas DMV & license offices 14 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #106 of 200 Commute by driving alone 70.7% metro-area #44 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 34.0% metro-area #122 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 15.5¢/kWh state #61 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $139 state #61 of 200 Gasoline $3.60/gal state #159 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $54 state #48 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $106 state #109 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $77 state #67 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,800 state #100 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 99.1 — Relatively High metro-area #188 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $550 state #7 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 56 metro-area #181 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 4,000 metro-area #196 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 1,200 metro-area #20 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 144 metro-area #197 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 52 metro-area #198 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 104°F metro-area #198 of 200 Avg winter low 41°F metro-area #43 of 200 Annual precipitation 10.6" metro-area #11 of 200 Annual snowfall 0.1" metro-area #46 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 85% metro-area #1 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 9a Frost window 02-10 → 12-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 430 state #111 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,600 state #157 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 84 metro-area #92 of 200 Parks 126 Hiking areas 21 Golf courses 36 Shooting ranges 23 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Tucson Major public and private employers in the Tucson, AZ area.
Employer Sector Jobs Raytheon Missiles & Defense Aerospace/Defense Careers → University of Arizona Education Search → Banner – University Medical Center Tucson Healthcare Search → Tucson Unified School District Education Search → Caterpillar Inc. Manufacturing Careers → Amazon Fulfillment Center Tucson logistics Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Tucson Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $139,210 Pharmacists $136,860 Physician Assistants $130,700 Human Resources Managers $126,590 Lawyers $124,990 Financial Managers $120,420 Marketing Managers $111,390 Software Developers $111,310 Mechanical Engineers $105,160 Construction Managers $101,480 Data Scientists $95,960 Physical Therapists $95,890 Dental Hygienists $92,660 Registered Nurses $88,030 Civil Engineers $86,070 General & Operations Managers $76,530 Accountants & Auditors $68,310 Web Developers $67,290 Electricians $57,440 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $49,600 Elementary School Teachers $49,360 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,050 Graphic Designers $48,050 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,220 Carpenters $46,800 Medical Assistants $38,930 Real Estate Sales Agents $38,570
Cities in the Tucson area Tucson (541,033) → Casas Adobes (69,917) → Marana (52,542) → Catalina Foothills (50,573) → Oro Valley (47,053) → Sahuarita (34,238) → Drexel Heights (30,254) → Green Valley (20,937) → Flowing Wells (17,188) → Vail (15,248) → Tanque Verde (14,815) → Valencia West (13,692) → Tucson Estates (12,795) → Tucson Mountains (11,171) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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