Rents are right about where Sierra Vista's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,287 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Sierra Vista is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2022.
Rent in Sierra Vista changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($70,291) is $1,757 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,345); a 3-bedroom is $1,885.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sierra Vista. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Sierra Vista, AZ is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 35% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sierra Vista, AZ has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Sierra Vista, AZ paid around $1,162 a month. That figure now sits near $1,287, up 10.8% from the 2023 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $70,291 today, compared with $66,129 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 32% to 35% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Sierra Vista on your salary?
At $1,287/mo, how Sierra Vista rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sierra Vista rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sierra Vista. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sierra Vista
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Sierra Vista is $1,287/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $955/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,345/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,215/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,885/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($70,291/yr), Sierra Vista ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Sierra Vista?
Is rent going up or down in Sierra Vista?
Which Sierra Vista neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Sierra Vista rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sierra Vista?
At $1,287/mo, rent takes ~22% of Sierra Vista's median household income ($70,291/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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