Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Below the national average, a cheaper desert alternative to Phoenix up the road.
Cost of living index (US avg = 100): 92
Median 2BR rent: $1,400/mo
Housing: 86 vs 100
Groceries: 96 vs 100
Utilities: 106 vs 100
Transportation: 96 vs 100
Healthcare: 95 vs 100
Tucson offers a university-town feel, Sonoran desert scenery, and lower costs than Phoenix. Affordable housing is the draw, with summer cooling the main variable.