Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Sun City, AZ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.2% of gross income.

Sun City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Sun City median rent
$1,737/mo
Firefighter salary (Arizona)
$60,926/yr
Rent as % of income
34.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,523/mo in rent. Sun City's median rent of $1,737 exceeds that threshold by $214/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 59.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arizona cities have lower median rent than Sun City, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Apache Junction, AZ
$1,736/mo (34.2% of income)
Cottonwood, AZ
$1,728/mo (34% of income)
Apache Junction, AZ
$1,727/mo (34% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sun City

View full rent data for Sun City, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Sun City, AZ?

Median rent in Sun City is $1,737 a month. A typical firefighter in Arizona earns about $60,926 a year, which makes that rent 34.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Sun City?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Arizona (~$60,926/yr) supports up to $1,523 a month in rent. Sun City's current median rent is $1,737/mo, which is $214/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Sun City?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Arizona works roughly 59.3 hours a month to cover Sun City's median rent of $1,737.

Where is rent cheaper than Sun City for a firefighter?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Apache Junction ($1,736/mo), Cottonwood ($1,728/mo), Apache Junction ($1,727/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Arizona state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Sun City, AZ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.