CostIndexUSA

Richmond, VA vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Richmond
97.9
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Tucson is slightly cheaper than Richmond — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Richmond, you would need $79,200 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing7.4%
Richmond
99.1
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Richmond
96.8
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Richmond
103.5
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.2%
Richmond
93.7
Tucson
94.8
Utilities≈ Equal
Richmond
89.2
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Richmond to see what you'd need to earn in Tucson to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$79,200
$800 less needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9898. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Richmond, VA

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
99.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.2×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Richmond has 7.4% lower housing costs compared to Tucson.

Income & Job Market

Richmond, VA

Median Household Income
$84,300
Per Capita Income
$48,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
226,610
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Richmond, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.