City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 4.8% higher than in Tucson, AZ. Someone earning $100,000 in Tucson, AZ would need about $104,800 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,629 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.9% moving from Eugene, OR to Tucson, AZ ($106,437 → $108,455), while prices change by −4.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.8% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,400 in Tucson | $104,822 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Tucson, AZ
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$5,629/yr.
84 Strong offer
Tucson, AZ → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$5,629/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Eugene → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,893 | +6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,095 | +6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,205 | +6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,455 | +6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,162 | +6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $47,220 | $49,497 (−23.0%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $123,710 | $129,675 (+7.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $76,320 | $80,000 (+0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $94,110 | $98,648 (−13.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.