Austin, TX vs Tucson, AZ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Tucson, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 4.9% lower than Austin, TX.

Austin, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,995 / month
Tucson, AZ · modeled 2BR rent
$1,460 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Austin, TX and Tucson, AZ using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $415/month in Tucson, AZ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,017 in Tucson, AZ

Regional cost estimates: Austin, TX uses Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Metropolitan Area. Tucson, AZ uses Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$415
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.0K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Austin, TX

Population:979K
Cost Index:
103.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$558K

Tucson, AZ

Population:548K
Cost Index:
98.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$327K

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Austin, TX

The Lone Star State

979K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax
Climate
Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

  • •Live music capital
  • •Major tech hub
  • •SXSW festival city

Major Industries

TechnologyMusic IndustryEducationGovernment

Tucson, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

548K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 548K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Austin, TX vs Tucson, AZ

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 20.7%
Austin, TX
$2,705
Tucson, AZ
$2,144
Difference
$560
less
Other
↑ 6.7%
Austin, TX
$1,632
Tucson, AZ
$1,742
Difference
$110
more
Groceries
↑ 7.3%
Austin, TX
$900
Tucson, AZ
$965
Difference
$65.59
more
All Utilities
↓ 10.1%
Austin, TX
$507
Tucson, AZ
$456
Difference
$51.24
less
Transportation
↑ 3.2%
Austin, TX
$1,204
Tucson, AZ
$1,242
Difference
$38.43
more
Healthcare
↓ 3.2%
Austin, TX
$552
Tucson, AZ
$534
Difference
$17.43
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,585
To$1,010
↓ $575
1 Bed
From$1,685
To$1,130
↓ $555
2 Bed
From$1,995
To$1,460
↓ $535
3 Bed
From$2,525
To$2,030
↓ $495
Austin, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$2,350/mo

Tucson, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$1,620/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Austin, TX
$7,085
Monthly in Tucson, AZ
$415
Difference

Home Values

Austin
Tucson
$558K
Median Value
$327K
↓ -5%
YoY Change
↓ -3%
↑ +12.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +29.6%
$272K - $1.26M
Price Range
$229K - $722K

Homes in Tucson are 41% less expensive than Austin

Calculate payment - AustinCalculate payment - Tucson

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $5.2K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$436
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.5%
Rate difference

Austin, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Tucson, AZ

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arizona State Tax
Effective: 3.5%
$5.2K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.2%
$42.2K
Take-Home Pay
$8,979/month
$107.8K

Additional Tax Information

Austin, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Tucson, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Austin, TX
35/100
2.8% sidewalk tags · 5.1% cycling tags
Tucson, AZ
29/100
0.2% sidewalk tags · 7.5% cycling tags

Environment

Austin
Tucson
52 Moderate
Air Quality
56 Moderate
42.6%
Good Air Days
30.9%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌡
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
147 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
147 days

Before moving from Austin, TX to Tucson, AZ

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Tucson, AZ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Austin, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Austin to Tucson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Tucson, AZ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Austin, TX vs Tucson, AZ

How do the cost estimates for Austin, TX and Tucson, AZ compare?

Tucson, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 4.9% lower than Austin, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Austin, TX, the model estimates $145,017 in Tucson, AZ. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Austin, TX and Tucson, AZ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,995/month in Austin, TX and $1,460/month in Tucson, AZ. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Texas and Arizona on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Austin, TX on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $1,213/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $1,187/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $1,035/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $965/mo
5.Columbus, OH
Save $921/mo

Similar cost to Tucson, AZ

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