Question 1

Is Arlington or Tucson cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $453/month less than in Arlington, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,402/mo in Tucson.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Tucson?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $68,000/year in Tucson, AZ — a difference of about $7,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Tucson cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Tucson, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $9,567/month in Tucson, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Tucson?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Tucson costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	Tucson65
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$3,824
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$9,567
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$68,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,402
Median home value	$276,400	$242,200
Median household income	$73,519	$54,546
Unemployment	4.7%	5.7%
Housing score	57	44
Jobs score	51	5
Safety score	65	91
Climate score	94	84
Amenities score	73	58
Population	394.8K	543.3K
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	100° / 40°

Arlington, TX vs Tucson, AZ