Tucson, United States

Cost of Living in Tucson, United States

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Tucson costs approximately $2,162 per month for one person including rent. That is 33% above the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $2,512, Tucson is cheaper than typical for United States & Canada. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,313 per month, or $1,086 outside the centre. Housing therefore accounts for about 50% of a single person's total monthly cost here. A family of four should budget around $3,790 per month excluding rent. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $18.00. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 303 Mbps and Tucson scores 38/100 on safety (below average on safety). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Tucson is a city in United States, where a single person can expect to spend about $2,162 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,313 per month, or $1,086 outside the centre. Internet is fast at around 303 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Tucson scores 38/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 107°F and winter highs around 60°F, with roughly 327 sunny days a year.

LGBTQ+ friendlyFamily friendlySafe tap water
Monthly Cost$2,162≈ $72/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$1,313
Internet303 Mbps
Safety38/100
Avg Temp84°F

Tucson Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$18
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$75
McDonald's Combo Meal$12.25
Cappuccino$0.91
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$6.50
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$2.31

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$0.91
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$3.03
Eggs (12)$4.27
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$4.86
Apples (1 lb)$2
Bananas (1 lb)$0.78
Tomatoes (1 lb)$1.84
Potatoes (1 lb)$1.12
Water (1.5L Bottle)$2.34
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$13.50
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$10.40

🚌 Transportation

Taxi Start$2.75
Taxi (1 Mile)$2.20
Gasoline (1 Liter)$0.87
VW Golf (New)$36,293

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$242.62
Mobile Phone Plan$73.12
Broadband Internet$78.75

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$37.45
Cinema Ticket$13
Preschool (Monthly)$1,120
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$15,605

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$48.85
Nike Running Shoes$89.86

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$1,312.95
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$1,086
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$2,157.92
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$1,812.91
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$301.77
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$233.27

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$3,740.81
Mortgage Interest Rate6.32%
Family of 4 (Monthly, excl. rent)$3,790
Single Person (Monthly, excl. rent)$1,075.90

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Tucson

Internet303 Mbps
Safety38/100
Healthcare92/100
Public Transit18/100
Walkability28/100
Nightlife42/100
Food Scene72/100
Fine Dining8/100
Coffee Culture35/100
Air Quality92/100
Green Spaces55/100
Culture72/100
Beaches5/100
Hiking82/100
Surfing0/100
Coworking Spaces35

How Tucson Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Tucson ranks in the top 5% for healthcare, but sits in the bottom 8% for walkability. It costs more than 70% of them.

MetricTucsonWorld rankRank in United States & Canada
Monthly cost$2,162#240 of 340#17 of 80
Safety38/100#291 of 340#60 of 80
Healthcare92/100#14 of 340#14 of 80
Internet speed303 Mbps#13 of 340#1 of 80
Walkability28/100#315 of 340#72 of 80
Public transit18/100#264 of 340#58 of 80
Food scene72/100#178 of 340#45 of 80
Air quality92/100#28 of 340#8 of 80

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Tucson

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Tucson.

Tucson FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Tucson?

A single person should budget around $2,162 per month in Tucson, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $3,790 per month excluding rent.

How much is rent in Tucson?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Tucson averages $1,313 per month, dropping to about $1,086 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $2,158.

Is Tucson safe?

Tucson scores 38/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 58/100.

How fast is the internet in Tucson?

Median download speeds in Tucson are around 303 Mbps — fast for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 35 coworking spaces in the city.

Does United States offer a digital nomad visa?

United States does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders should check current entry requirements before traveling.

What is the weather like in Tucson?

Tucson sees summer highs around 107°F and winter highs near 60°F, with about 327 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 34 days.

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