City Comparison
Tempe vs Tucson
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Tempe scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Tempe
Tucson
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Tucson is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
13% lower than in Tempe.
Housing costs are a major driver: Tempe's average rent is
22% higher than Tucson's.
| Metric | Tempe | Tucson | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,939 | $1,595 | +22% |
| Groceries | $440 | $420 | +5% |
| Utilities | $195 | $190 | +3% |
| Transport | $115 | $115 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $240 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,929 | $2,560 | +14% |
| Cost Index | 105 | 97 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Tempe offers 21% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Tempe delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Tempe is estimated at
$62,000 vs $52,000 in Tucson.
| Metric | Tempe | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $76,000 | $63,000 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,381 idx | 64,948 idx |
| Household Income | $79,663 | $57,073 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.2°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Tucson sees 1.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Tempe | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 76.30°F | 73.10°F |
| Summer High | 106.60°F | 102.10°F |
| Winter Low | 47.50°F | 44.30°F |
| Rainfall | 15.40 in | 14.50 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 1.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 327 | 321 |
| Humidity | 31.00% | 38.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Tempe has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Tucson.
Tempe scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tucson leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Tempe | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 54.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tucson is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Tempe.
From a growth perspective, Tucson is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Tucson has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Tempe | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 190,571 | 548,371 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 34.6 |
| Unemployment | 4.60% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Tempe
Advantages
Median property value in Tempe stands at $455,400 with steady regional appreciation per U.S. Census data.
Exceptional multi-modal transit featuring the Valley Metro Light Rail and free Orbit circulators connecting directly to Sky Harbor Airport.
Abundant outdoor recreation centered around Tempe Town Lake, Hayden Butte, and over 320 sunny days per year.
Thriving high-tech and educational economy driven by Arizona State University and major corporate employers.
Vibrant dining, arts, and cultural scene anchored by Downtown Tempe and Mill Avenue establishments.
Drawbacks
Intense summer heat with average daily highs exceeding 106°F requires high seasonal cooling expenditures.
Average monthly rent of $1,939 creates affordability challenges for lower-income renters and entry-level workers.
Property crime rates, particularly bicycle and vehicle thefts, are elevated around high-density student and entertainment zones.
Housing inventory for single-family homes is competitive, leading to fast-paced bidding and limited starter inventory.
Traffic congestion during peak university semesters and major stadium events impacts primary arterial corridors.
Tucson
Advantages
Average monthly rent of $1,595 offers better affordability than most major US metropolitan areas per Zillow 2026 data.
Exceptional outdoor recreation access with Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon located directly within and adjacent to the city limits.
Recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy featuring world-renowned Sonoran culinary traditions and local dining.
Over 321 days of annual sunshine providing an ideal climate for outdoor enthusiasts and solar energy adoption.
Strong institutional economic anchors driven by the University of Arizona and major aerospace employers like Raytheon.
Drawbacks
Extreme summer high temperatures averaging 102.1°F create high seasonal cooling utility demands and limit midday outdoor activity.
Local median household income of $57,073 trails national benchmarks, reflecting regional wage disparities.
Poverty rates hover around 18.1%, presenting ongoing socioeconomic challenges in specific urban pockets.
Property crime rates remain higher than the national average in select urban and commercial corridors.
High reliance on automobile transportation outside of the central downtown and university streetcar zones.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Tempe
#412Arizona, USA
57.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,939
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
105
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
54.0/100
Sunny Days
327/yr
Avg Temp
76.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
79
Business
80
Tucson
#437Arizona, USA
56.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,595
Avg Salary
$63,000
Cost Index
97
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
321/yr
Avg Temp
73.10°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
76
Business
70
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