Cost of living in Tucson

In Tucson, United States, a family of four typically needs around $4634 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $1954 monthly.

How expensive is Tucson compared to other cities?

Tucson is 37% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Tucson compare to your city?

Tucson is 45% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Tucson is, on average, 56% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Tucson?

Who is Tucson a good fit for?

Tucson is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Tucson so expensive?

The primary reason for Tucson's high cost of living is the significant expense associated with rent and utilities. This factor heavily influences overall living costs.

Is food expensive in Tucson?

Yes, food costs are 24% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living in the city.

Is public transport affordable in Tucson?

Public transport in Tucson is 9% lower than the European benchmark, making it a relatively affordable option for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1954 $
Without Rent
794 $
Rent & Utilities
1160 $
Food
589 $
Transport
68 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3612 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
543.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 16.9 $
Dinner 64.4 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 11.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.05 $
Capuccino 5.2 $
Coke, 330ml 2.85 $

Compare Tucson with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.9 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.99 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.59 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.92 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.4 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.5 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.2 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.22 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.38 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.91 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.62 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.1 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.48 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.43 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.12 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.8 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.08 $
Cigarette pack 9.72 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 0.62 $
Monthly Pass 19.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.03 $
Taxi, 8 km 14.1 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 92.3 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.23 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 3.98 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.36 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.72 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 159 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 244 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 72.8 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 896 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,646 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,056 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,998 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,54 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,461 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,612 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.55%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 30 $
Cinema, 1 seat 11.7 $
Haircut 16.7 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 93.8 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 54.1 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,08 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 15,724 $

Compare Tucson with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Tucson vs George Town (George Town is 86% more expensive)
Bahamas
Tucson vs Nassau (Nassau is 41% more expensive) Tucson vs Freeport (Freeport is 12% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Tucson vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 20% more expensive) Tucson vs Luganville (Luganville is 56% more expensive)
United States
Tucson vs New York City (New York City is 107% more expensive) Tucson vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 63% more expensive) Tucson vs Chicago (Chicago is 36% more expensive) Tucson vs Houston (Houston is 15% more expensive) Tucson vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 21% more expensive) Tucson vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 30% more expensive) Tucson vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 12% more expensive) Tucson vs San Diego (San Diego is 71% more expensive) Tucson vs Dallas (Dallas is 31% more expensive) Tucson vs San Jose (San Jose is 88% more expensive)
Canada
Tucson vs Toronto (Toronto is 32% more expensive) Tucson vs Montreal (Montreal has similar costs) Tucson vs Calgary (Calgary is 10% more expensive) Tucson vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 14% more expensive) Tucson vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 9% less expensive) Tucson vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 10% less expensive) Tucson vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 27% more expensive) Tucson vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 36% more expensive) Tucson vs Brampton (Brampton is 9% more expensive) Tucson vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 10% more expensive)
Barbados
Tucson vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 30% less expensive) Tucson vs Holetown (Holetown is 29% less expensive)
Panama
Tucson vs Panama City (Panama City is 29% less expensive) Tucson vs Colon (Colon is 40% less expensive) Tucson vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 37% less expensive) Tucson vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 46% less expensive) Tucson vs David (David is 57% less expensive) Tucson vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 51% less expensive) Tucson vs Balboa (Balboa is 36% less expensive) Tucson vs Pacora (Pacora is 36% less expensive) Tucson vs Chitre (Chitre is 44% less expensive) Tucson vs Penonome (Penonome is 44% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Tucson vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 36% less expensive) Tucson vs Cayon (Cayon is 36% less expensive)
Cuba
Tucson vs Havana (Havana is 48% less expensive) Tucson vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 28% less expensive) Tucson vs Holguin (Holguin is 34% less expensive) Tucson vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 22% less expensive) Tucson vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 46% less expensive) Tucson vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 40% less expensive) Tucson vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 20% less expensive) Tucson vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 20% less expensive) Tucson vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 44% less expensive) Tucson vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 55% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Tucson vs San Jose (San Jose is 37% less expensive) Tucson vs Limon (Limon is 39% less expensive) Tucson vs Liberia (Liberia is 54% less expensive) Tucson vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 37% less expensive) Tucson vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 35% less expensive) Tucson vs Cartago (Cartago is 51% less expensive) Tucson vs Heredia (Heredia is 36% less expensive) Tucson vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 14% less expensive) Tucson vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 33% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Tucson vs Castries (Castries is 41% less expensive) Tucson vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 39% less expensive)
Jamaica
Tucson vs Kingston (Kingston is 32% less expensive) Tucson vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 60% less expensive) Tucson vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 48% less expensive) Tucson vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 40% less expensive) Tucson vs May Pen (May Pen is 58% less expensive) Tucson vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 50% less expensive) Tucson vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 57% less expensive) Tucson vs Linstead (Linstead is 46% less expensive) Tucson vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 43% less expensive) Tucson vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 42% less expensive)
El Salvador
Tucson vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 39% less expensive) Tucson vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 64% less expensive) Tucson vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 40% less expensive) Tucson vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 45% less expensive) Tucson vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 41% less expensive) Tucson vs Apopa (Apopa is 41% less expensive) Tucson vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 38% less expensive) Tucson vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 26% less expensive) Tucson vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 44% less expensive) Tucson vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 55% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Tucson vs St. John's (St. John's is 45% less expensive) Tucson vs All Saints (All Saints is 45% less expensive)
Grenada
Tucson vs St. George's (St. George's is 45% less expensive) Tucson vs Grenville (Grenville is 46% less expensive)
Dominica
Tucson vs Roseau (Roseau is 49% less expensive) Tucson vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 42% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Tucson vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 50% less expensive) Tucson vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 49% less expensive)
Belize
Tucson vs Belize City (Belize City is 55% less expensive) Tucson vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 44% less expensive) Tucson vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 63% less expensive) Tucson vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 32% less expensive) Tucson vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 19% less expensive)
Guatemala
Tucson vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 49% less expensive) Tucson vs Mixco (Mixco is 67% less expensive) Tucson vs Coban (Coban is 53% less expensive) Tucson vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 60% less expensive) Tucson vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 54% less expensive) Tucson vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 54% less expensive) Tucson vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 55% less expensive) Tucson vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 55% less expensive) Tucson vs Flores (Flores is 56% less expensive) Tucson vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 60% less expensive)
Honduras
Tucson vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 58% less expensive) Tucson vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 47% less expensive) Tucson vs Choloma (Choloma is 69% less expensive) Tucson vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 67% less expensive) Tucson vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 55% less expensive) Tucson vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 56% less expensive) Tucson vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 63% less expensive) Tucson vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 63% less expensive) Tucson vs Yoro (Yoro is 62% less expensive) Tucson vs La Lima (La Lima is 55% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Tucson vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 59% less expensive) Tucson vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 46% less expensive) Tucson vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 61% less expensive) Tucson vs Higuey (Higuey is 61% less expensive) Tucson vs La Vega (La Vega is 71% less expensive) Tucson vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 57% less expensive) Tucson vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 63% less expensive) Tucson vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 73% less expensive) Tucson vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 68% less expensive) Tucson vs Bonao (Bonao is 72% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Tucson vs Managua (Managua is 60% less expensive) Tucson vs Leon (Leon is 67% less expensive) Tucson vs Masaya (Masaya is 64% less expensive) Tucson vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 72% less expensive) Tucson vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 67% less expensive) Tucson vs Esteli (Esteli is 70% less expensive) Tucson vs Granada (Granada is 64% less expensive) Tucson vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 77% less expensive) Tucson vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 66% less expensive) Tucson vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 54% less expensive)