City Comparison
Surprise vs Tucson
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Surprise scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Surprise
Tucson
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Tucson is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Surprise.
Housing costs are a major driver: Surprise's average rent is
32% higher than Tucson's.
| Metric | Surprise | Tucson | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,100 | $1,595 | +32% |
| Groceries | $400 | $420 | -5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $190 | -5% |
| Transport | $120 | $115 | +4% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $240 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $3,020 | $2,560 | +18% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 97 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Surprise offers 14% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Surprise delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Surprise is estimated at
$60,000 vs $52,000 in Tucson.
| Metric | Surprise | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $63,000 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 73,469 idx | 64,948 idx |
| Household Income | $96,711 | $57,073 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Tucson sees 1.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Surprise | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 75.10°F | 73.10°F |
| Summer High | 106.10°F | 102.10°F |
| Winter Low | 47.00°F | 44.30°F |
| Rainfall | 10.70 in | 14.50 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 1.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 330 | 321 |
| Humidity | 30.00% | 38.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Tucson has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Surprise.
Tucson 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 | Surprise | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 40.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tucson is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Surprise.
From a growth perspective, Surprise is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Surprise has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Surprise | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 167,602 | 548,371 |
| Pop. Growth | 3.31% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 41.4 | 34.6 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Surprise
Advantages
Ranks consistently among the top safest cities in Arizona with low violent crime rates.
Average rent and home prices remain more affordable compared to central Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Hosts Major League Baseball Spring Training at the state-of-the-art Surprise Stadium.
Median household income of $96,711 significantly outperforms the national and state averages.
Abundant sunshine with over 330 sunny days per year supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Drawbacks
High summer temperatures exceeding 106°F make outdoor activities difficult during peak afternoons.
High car dependency with limited public mass transit options within the city.
Rapid population growth has occasionally introduced traffic congestion along major commuter corridors.
Significant spike in summer electricity and cooling utility bills due to extreme desert heat.
Summer monsoon season can occasionally bring brief, intense dust storms and heavy rainfall.
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.
Surprise
#13Arizona, USA
74.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,100
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
330/yr
Avg Temp
75.10°F
Pop. Growth
3.31%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
72
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Surprise and Tucson.
Open Cost Calculator