How much does it cost to rent in Tucson, AZ?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Tucson, AZ is $1,425. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Tucson cheaper than other Arizona cities?

Tucson is among the more affordable cities in Arizona, ranking #45 out of 51 cities at $1,425/mo.

When was Tucson rent data last updated?

Tucson rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Donald Teel / Unsplash

City Report · AZ

Tucson

Name: Average Rent Prices in Tucson, AZ
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 547,073·45th most expensive in Arizona·Rental market data updated monthly for Tucson, AZ

Median rent (all units)

$1,425/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.9%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$540

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Tucson · $1,425

More affordable than 80% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

72/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% below what Tucson's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,425/mo

Expected by trend

$1,597/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Tucson's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,022

1 BR

$1,143

2 BR

$1,492

3 BR

$2,092

4 BR+

$2,428

Research median

$1,492/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,100/yr

At $1,425/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.9% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Tucson, AZ is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 31.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

547,073

Median income

$57,073

Median age

34.6

Renters

48.2%

Age distribution

19.3%

31.2%

22.5%

16.2%

Under 1819.3%

18–3431.2%

35–5422.5%

55–6410.7%

65+16.2%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

53.7%

42.8%

White53.7%

Black5.1%

Hispanic42.8%

Asian3.3%

Education (25+)

23.2%

33.9%

31.1%

No HS diploma11.8%

HS diploma23.2%

Some college33.9%

Bachelor's+31.1%

Housing tenure

51.8%

48.2%

Owner51.8%

Renter48.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Tucson, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,107 → $1,425

up 28.7%

Income

$48,058 → $57,073

up 18.8%

Population

538,167 → 547,073

up 1.7%

Renter share

48.7% → 48.2%

-0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

28.9% → 31.1%

+2.2 pts

The median rent in Tucson, AZ stood at $1,107 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,425, reflecting a 28.7% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $48,058 to $57,073 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.8% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 538,167 residents to roughly 547,073. College-educated residents now make up 31.1% of adults here, versus 28.9% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Tucson, 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.

Community

Discussions about Tucson

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View Tucson rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Tucson on your salary?

At $1,425/mo, how Tucson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $91,646/yr · Rent = 18.7% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $65,068/yr · Rent = 26.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $74,952/yr · Rent = 22.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $133,967/yr · Rent = 12.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $171,176/yr · Rent = 10% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $60,926/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $55,009/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $67,803/yr · Rent = 25.2% income

affordable

By apartment size

Tucson rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Tucson. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Tucson

About renting in Tucson, AZ

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Tucson is $1,425/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,022/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,492/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,143/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,092/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($57,073/yr), Tucson ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Tucson an affordable city for renters?

Tucson is considered moderate for renters. At $1,425/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($57,073/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Tucson slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Tucson?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $57,000/year (~$27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,425/mo in Tucson. The local median household income is $57,073/yr, meaning the typical Tucson household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Tucson?

Rent in Tucson has increased 1.9% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Tucson neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Tucson are 85705 ($1,096/mo), 85710 ($1,104/mo), and 85712 ($1,122/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Tucson is $1,425/mo.

How does Tucson rent compare to other cities in Arizona?

Tucson is one of the more affordable cities in Arizona for rent, ranking #45 out of 51 tracked cities at $1,425/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Tucson?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Tucson ($1,425/mo): South Tucson ($1,167/mo), Tortolita ($1,401/mo).

What percentage of Tucson residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.2% of Tucson households are renters, while 51.8% are owner-occupied. Tucson leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.