Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Tucson

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Tucson, you'd need:

$53,663

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Tucson 97.9
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Tucson $45,503

Tucson

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$8,626
Rent (2BR) -$16,824
Net Income $44,550

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$91,747

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $4,015 more per year in Tucson compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $1,385 more in taxes in Tucson, while housing costs 24% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Tucson is 2% below avg, making Tucson the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $53,663 in Tucson once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tucson has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tucson ($22,621 vs $9,264 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Tucson
Schools
541
370
Enrollment
345,378
141,445
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
22.5%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Tucson
Institutions
31
16
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$9,264
Out-of-State
$28,276
$16,970
Grad Rate
58.5%
63.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Tucson more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 97.9 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tucson equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $53,663 in Tucson to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Tucson?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $16,824 in Tucson—housing is 24% less in Tucson.