Prescott, AZ vs Oro Valley, AZ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oro Valley, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 15.1% lower than Prescott, AZ.

Prescott, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $1,920 / month
Oro Valley, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,090 / 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 Prescott, AZ and Oro Valley, 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

Current salary in Prescott, AZ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $893/month in Oro Valley, AZ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,282 in Oro Valley, AZ

Regional cost estimates: Prescott, AZ uses Scottsdale, AZ. Oro Valley, AZ uses Tucson, AZ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 15.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$893

Savings

Annual Impact

$10.7K

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.

Prescott, AZ

Population:48K

Cost Index:

109.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$531K

Oro Valley, AZ

Population:48K

Cost Index:

92.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$491K

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Prescott, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

48K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 48K residents.

Oro Valley, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

48K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 48K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Prescott, AZ vs Oro Valley, 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.

Category	Prescott, AZ	Oro Valley, AZ	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,762/mo	$1,842/mo	↓ $920less	33.3%
Groceries	$847/mo	$946/mo	↑ $98.95more	11.7%
Transportation	$1,230/mo	$1,186/mo	↓ $44.03less	3.6%
All Utilities	$483/mo	$447/mo	↓ $35.52less	7.4%
Healthcare	$520/mo	$524/mo	↑ $4.17more	0.8%
Other	$1,659/mo	$1,663/mo	↑ $3.66more	0.2%

Housing

↓ 33.3%

Prescott, AZ

$2,762

Oro Valley, AZ

$1,842

Difference

$920

less

Groceries

↑ 11.7%

Prescott, AZ

$847

Oro Valley, AZ

$946

Difference

$98.95

Transportation

↓ 3.6%

Prescott, AZ

$1,230

Oro Valley, AZ

$1,186

Difference

$44.03

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.4%

Prescott, AZ

$483

Oro Valley, AZ

$447

Difference

$35.52

less

Healthcare

↑ 0.8%

Prescott, AZ

$520

Oro Valley, AZ

$524

Difference

$4.17

Other

↑ 0.2%

Prescott, AZ

$1,659

Oro Valley, AZ

$1,663

Difference

$3.66

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,320

To$1,440

↑ $120

1 Bed

From$1,530

To$1,610

↑ $80.00

2 Bed

From$1,920

To$2,090

↑ $170

3 Bed

From$2,670

To$2,910

↑ $240

Prescott, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$1,530/mo

Oro Valley, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,610–$1,610/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 Prescott, AZ

$6,607

Monthly in Oro Valley, AZ

$893

Difference

Home Values

Prescott

Oro Valley

$531K

Median Value

$491K

↓ -1%

YoY Change

↓ -1.5%

↑ +32.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +31.1%

Homes in Oro Valley are 8% less expensive than Prescott

Calculate payment - Prescott Calculate payment - Oro Valley

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Prescott, 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

Oro Valley, 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

Prescott, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%

Property Tax:0.6%

Oro Valley, 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.

Environment

Prescott

Oro Valley

77 Moderate

Air Quality

56 Moderate

Good Air Days

30.9%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

99 High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

161 days

Heat Days >95°F

147 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

161 days

Heat Days >95°F

147 days

Before moving from Prescott, AZ to Oro Valley, AZ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oro Valley, AZ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Prescott, AZ. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Prescott to Oro Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Prescott, AZ vs Oro Valley, AZ

How do the cost estimates for Prescott, AZ and Oro Valley, AZ compare?

Oro Valley, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 15.1% lower than Prescott, AZ. 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 Prescott, AZ, the model estimates $139,282 in Oro Valley, 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 Prescott, AZ and Oro Valley, AZ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,920/month in Prescott, AZ and $2,090/month in Oro Valley, 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.