CostIndexUSA

Riverside, CA vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Tucson is moderately cheaper than Riverside — 8.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Riverside, you would need $72,900 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.0%
Riverside
129.3
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries5.1%
Riverside
101.4
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.4%
Riverside
106.3
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Riverside
96.2
Tucson
94.8
Utilities39.8%
Riverside
148.6
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$72,900
$7,100 less needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 0.9107. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Tucson, AZ

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

Riverside has 29.0% lower housing costs compared to Tucson.

Income & Job Market

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

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).

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.