Moving from Tucson to Phoenix
Your paycheck buys 6.2% less in Phoenix than in Tucson; you'd need about $75,500 to break even. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Phoenix: $75,500
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $75,500 in Phoenix, AZ to match $70,000 in Tucson, AZ ($5,500 more), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Both are in Arizona, so state income tax is the same; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Tucson vs Phoenix: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,300 → $1,819/mo
- Median home value
- $349,500 → $470,600
- Median household income
- $72,067 → $90,133
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 96.9 → 103.3
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (99.1 → 99.3 of 100)
Tucson vs Phoenix cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Tucson, AZ | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 96.9 | 103.3 |
| Median rent | $1,300 | $1,819 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $52,000 | $72,760 |
| Median home value | $349,500 | $470,600 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $2,140 | $2,748 |
| Income needed to buy | $91,695 | $117,776 |
| Median property tax | $2,276 | $1,883 |
| State income tax on $70,000 | $1,348 | $1,348 |
| Metro population | 1,080,149 | 5,186,958 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Tucson vs Phoenix
On a $70,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $40,801 a year in Tucson and $47,029 in Phoenix if you rent: $6,228 more after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $50,876 and $58,178 ($7,302 more).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | TucsonBefore | PhoenixAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $70,000, single filer | $13,273 | $13,273 | $0 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,923 | $1,923 | $0 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,344 | $1,344 | $0 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,277 | $2,277 | $0 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $6,384 | $6,384 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $15,600 | $21,828 | +$6,228 |
| Total if you rent | $40,801 | $47,029 | +$6,228 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $22,210 | $29,905 | +$7,695 |
| Property tax median home | $2,276 | $1,883 | -$393 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,189 | $1,189 | $0 |
| Total if you buy | $50,876 | $58,178 | +$7,302 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $15,964 a year in Tucson and $15,964 in Phoenix (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Tucson to Phoenix
About 4,034 households (6,471 people) moved from the Tucson metro area to the Phoenix metro area in 2022–2023, making Phoenix the #1 destination for people leaving Tucson among the 149 metro areas we cover. 3,473 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $64,520.
Cost to move from Tucson to Phoenix
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 140 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Tucson vs Phoenix
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Tucson area among the highest (score 99.1) and the Phoenix area among the highest (score 99.3), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $510 vs $482 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Phoenix cheaper than Tucson?
Overall prices in the Phoenix area are 6.6% higher than in Tucson (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,819 vs $1,300 a month, and the median home is $470,600 vs $349,500.
What salary do I need in Phoenix to match $100,000 in Tucson?
About $107,500, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Both are in Arizona, so state income tax is the same.
How much does it cost to move from Tucson to Phoenix?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 140 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Tucson to Phoenix?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 4,034 households (6,471 people) moved from the Tucson metro area to the Phoenix metro area, and 3,473 moved the other way.