Rents are 3% above what Sun City West's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $1,898 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 Sun City West is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.
Rent in Sun City West changed +14.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($63,685) is $1,592 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,590); a 2-bedroom is $1,850.
Youngtown, 8 miles away, rents for 25% less ($1,429/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sun City West. 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
Sun City West, AZ is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 34.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sun City West, AZ has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Sun City West, AZ stood at $1,554 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,898, reflecting a 22.1% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $58,837 to $63,685 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.2% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.1% since 2021, moving from about 26,354 residents to roughly 27,425. Taken together, the five-year picture in Sun City West, AZ reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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At $1,898/mo, how Sun City West rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sun City West rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sun City West. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sun City West
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Sun City West is $1,898/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,850/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,590/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,490/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($63,685/yr), Sun City West ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 14.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Sun City West?
How does Sun City West rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
At $1,898/mo, rent takes ~36% of Sun City West's median household income ($63,685/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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