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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The real story isn't in the ranking — it's in the details below. 12 of 12 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 12 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've g…
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucson | $1,399 | 11% | 97 | Details |
| 2 | Glendale | $1,544 | 12% | 103 | Details |
| 3 | Mesa | $1,554 | 12% | 105 | Details |
| 4 | Phoenix | $1,556 | 12% | 104 | Details |
| 5 | Tempe | $1,679 | 13% | 108 | Details |
| 6 | Goodyear | $1,767 | 14% | 110 | Details |
| 7 | Peoria | $1,821 | 15% | 111 | Details |
| 8 | Chandler | $1,848 | 15% | 113 | Details |
| 9 | Surprise | $1,926 | 15% | 110 | Details |
| 10 | Buckeye | $2,004 | 16% | 110 | Details |
| 11 | Gilbert | $2,049 | 16% | 119 | Details |
| 12 | Scottsdale | $2,113 | 17% | 133 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Tucson — cost index 97, rent $1,399/mo, income $54,546
12 of 12 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
12 of 12 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The real story isn't in the ranking — it's in the details below. 12 of 12 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 12 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. Financially, that's significant.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 12 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 12 cities in Arizona using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Tucson comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
At $1,399/month for rent and a cost index of 97, Tucson is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $54,546. That's a reasonable number.
It's a strong position — but not without footnotes. Across Arizona, the average cost of living index is 110 — 2 points below the national median. Known for desert sun, retiree magnet, and fast growth, the state offers 12 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,772/month. That's $123 less than the national average of $1,895. If two cities have the same income, this cost gap is the tiebreaker.
Bottom line: Tucson leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Tucson | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
2Glendale | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
3Mesa | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
4Phoenix | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
5Tempe | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
6Goodyear | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
7Peoria | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
8Chandler | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
9Surprise | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
10Buckeye | 2.5% | 8.37% | 0.51% | $105,733 |
547,239 residents · Arizona
The way we see it, Tucson earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And as far as the data shows, the 97 cost index sits 15 points below the national baseline, and the $54,546 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $321,688 — $145,682 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 89, while Healthcare trails at 100.
187,050 residents · Arizona
The #2 spot goes to Glendale, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,544/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — — saving renters $4,212 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 95, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 108. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
511,648 residents · Arizona
A closer look at Mesa: the cost index of 105 breaks down to a Utilities index of 96 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 112 (weakest). Median rent is $1,554/month — 18% below the national median — while household income sits at $78,779, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
1,650,070 residents · Arizona
Here's Phoenix by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 104. Rent: $1,556/month. No major red flags in that number. Income: $77,041/year. Home price: $407,665. Population: 1,650,070. The strongest category is Utilities at 95; the most expensive is Housing at 109. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $4,068 per year vs. the national median. That adds up much faster than people realize.
189,834 residents · Arizona
The #5 spot goes to Tempe, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,679/month — saving renters $2,592 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 100, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 120. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone. Solidly above average.
We calculate what percentage of a $150K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Tucson ranks #1 in Arizona for this analysis with a cost index of 97 and median income of $54,546.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Tucson, rent would consume about 11% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Tucson (ranked #1) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,399/mo, while Scottsdale (ranked #12) has a cost index of 133 and rent of $2,113/mo — a 36-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Tucson is $1,399/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $496 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 2.5% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Tucson is approximately $105,733/year ($8,811/month). After median rent of $1,399/month, you'd have roughly $88,945/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Tucson is $321,688, which is 5.9× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Arizona has a 2.5% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.37%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.51%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.