Rents are 13% below what Tucson's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,428 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
December. Asking rents in Tucson usually run 0.5% below trend in December and 0.4% above it in June, about $13 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Tucson is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Tucson changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Tucson rose 45% while median household income rose 31.4% ($43,425 to $57,073). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Tucson is 41.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($57,073) is $1,427 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,143); a 2-bedroom is $1,492.
The priciest of 25 ZIP codes in Tucson, 85747 ($2,013/mo), costs 2 times the cheapest, 85714 ($995/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Tucson. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Tucson, AZ has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Tucson, AZ stood at $1,133 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,428, reflecting a 26.0% 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.
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Can you afford rent in Tucson on your salary?
At $1,428/mo, how Tucson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Tucson rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Tucson. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Tucson
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Tucson is $1,428/mo as of October 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 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Tucson rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
At $1,428/mo, rent takes ~30% of Tucson's median household income ($57,073/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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