City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Richmond, VA (97.9) and Tucson, AZ (96.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Richmond, VA goes as far as $99,000 in Tucson, AZ.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,645 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.5% moving from Richmond, VA to Tucson, AZ ($111,183 → $108,455), while prices change by −1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.5% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Richmond, VA | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,017 in Tucson | $100,993 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,645/yr.
72 Strong offer
Tucson, AZ → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$2,645/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Richmond → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $62,893 | −1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $76,095 | −1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $91,205 | −1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $108,455 | −1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $128,162 | −1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $47,220 | $47,689 (−22.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $123,710 | $124,938 (−5.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $76,320 | $77,078 (−8.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $94,110 | $95,044 (+1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.