Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in South Tucson, AZ?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.2% of gross income.
South Tucson rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Arizona cities have lower median rent than South Tucson, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for South Tucson
View full rent data for South Tucson, AZ →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in South Tucson, AZ?
Median rent in South Tucson is $1,573 a month. A typical police officer in Arizona earns about $74,952 a year, which makes that rent 25.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in South Tucson?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Arizona (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. South Tucson's current median rent is $1,573/mo, which leaves a $301/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in South Tucson?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Arizona works roughly 43.7 hours a month to cover South Tucson's median rent of $1,573.
Where is rent cheaper than South Tucson for a police officer?
Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Phoenix ($1,572/mo), Phoenix ($1,571/mo), Coolidge ($1,569/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.