Studio Rent · August 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Tucson, AZ

$1,022/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Tucson, Arizona as of August 2026. That's +28% lower than the citywide median of $1,421 and +21% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$1,022
August 2026
vs city overall
-28%
$1,421 city median
vs national
-21%
$1,290 US median
Arizona rank
#6
of 48 cities

Income needed for a studio in Tucson

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$40,880
Monthly gross
$3,407
Hourly (full-time)
$19.65

Rent by apartment size in Tucson

Compare Tucson's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$1,022
1-Bedroom
$1,143
2-Bedroom
$1,492
3-Bedroom
$2,092
4+ Bedroom
$2,428

Cheapest cities for a studio in Arizona

#CityStudio rent
1Sierra Vista$955
2Bullhead City$1,010
3Cottonwood$1,010
4Green Valley$1,020
5Kingman$1,020
6Tucson (this page)$1,022
7Prescott$1,073
8Fort Mohave$1,080
9Glendale$1,089
10Mesa$1,110
11Phoenix$1,128
12Yuma$1,137
13Prescott Valley$1,160
14Tempe$1,195
15Lake Havasu City$1,210

Most expensive cities for a studio in Arizona

#CityStudio rent
1Waddell$2,250
2Anthem$2,170
3Queen Creek$2,060
4Gilbert$2,043
5Scottsdale$1,972
6Litchfield Park$1,950
7Buckeye$1,870
8San Tan Valley$1,850
9Surprise$1,808
10Peoria$1,780
11Fountain Hills$1,780
12Maricopa$1,730
13Tolleson$1,690
14Flagstaff$1,670
15Avondale$1,650

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 2 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Tucson.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Tucson
Oro Valley, AZ12.7 mi$1,410+$388 (+38%)
Sahuarita, AZ22.4 mi$1,350+$328 (+32%)
Vail, AZ24.8 mi$1,410+$388 (+38%)
Marana, AZ28.4 mi$1,320+$298 (+29%)
Green Valley, AZ28.7 mi$1,020$-2 (0%)
Florence, AZ51.8 mi$1,370+$348 (+34%)
Arizona City, AZ62.5 mi$1,320+$298 (+29%)
Coolidge, AZ67 mi$1,320+$298 (+29%)
Casa Grande, AZ69.9 mi$1,330+$308 (+30%)
Sierra Vista, AZ70.4 mi$955$-67 (-7%)
San Tan Valley, AZ78.7 mi$1,850+$828 (+81%)
Queen Creek, AZ82.6 mi$2,060+$1,038 (+102%)

Studio rent in Tucson — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Tucson?

As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Tucson, Arizona is $1,022 per month. This is +28% below the citywide median of $1,421.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Tucson?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $40,880 ($3,407/month gross), which works out to roughly $19.65/hour at a full-time job.

Is Tucson expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Tucson's studio median of $1,022 is +21% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 29th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Tucson rank for studio rent in Arizona?

Among the 48 cities in Arizona with studio data, Tucson ranks #6 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Tucson?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Green Valley ($1,020), Sierra Vista ($955).

All rent data
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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Tucson, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (August 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.