What is the cost of living in Tucson, AZ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tucson has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arizona, Tucson has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arizona's index of 100.
The standard of living in Tucson ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 91 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Tucson ranks as the #57 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.
For more reading on life in Tucson, check out:
Tucson Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tucson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tucson is 104.
The Groceries index in Tucson is 102.
The Health index in Tucson is 91.
The Housing index in Tucson is 99.
The Transportation index in Tucson is 112.
The Utilities index in Tucson is 107.
| Living Expense | Tucson | Arizona | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 104 | 100 |
Tucson Cost Of Living Compared To Arizona Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Tucson Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tucson, AZ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arizona, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Tucson is $324,023.
The Median Rent in Tucson is $1,145.
The Median Income in Tucson is $57,073.
The Home Value To Income in Tucson is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tucson is 0.24x.
Tucson, AZ Costs By Category
Detailed Tucson Services costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Tucson Groceries costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Tucson Health costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Tucson Transportation costs vs. Arizona
Tucson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tucson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tucson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Casas Adobes, AZ has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Tucson.
Catalina Foothills, AZ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.3x Tucson.
Oro Valley, AZ has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x Tucson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casas Adobes, AZ | 72,059 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Catalina Foothills, AZ | 52,593 | 136 | 1.3x |
| Oro Valley, AZ | 48,162 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Sahuarita, AZ | 35,862 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Drexel Heights, AZ | 27,675 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Flowing Wells, AZ | 16,559 | 84 | 0.8x |
| Vail, AZ | 16,315 | 119 | 1.2x |
| Tanque Verde, AZ | 15,866 | 136 | 1.3x |
| Valencia West, AZ | 14,728 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Tucson Estates, AZ | 12,136 | 99 | 1.0x |
