TUCSON, ARIZONA (July 22, 2026) — Tucson renters are getting more apartment for their money in 2026, with a $1,500 monthly budget now securing an average of 914 square feet—15 square feet more than it did a year ago.
That is enough space to put even a two-bedroom apartment within reach for many local renters, according to a new RentCafe analysis comparing how far a $1,500 monthly rent budget stretches across 200 of the nation’s largest cities.
Tucson ranked No. 62 nationally, placing it comfortably above the U.S. average of 703 square feet available for the same monthly budget. The typical apartment nationwide measures 835 square feet, while the national average rent reached $1,740 as of March 2026.
The findings also reinforce Tucson’s relative affordability compared with metropolitan Phoenix. A $1,500 budget rents more space in Tucson than in Phoenix and even outperforms Peoria, the most spacious rental market among the Valley cities included in the analysis. Peoria renters receive 885 square feet for $1,500—29 square feet less than renters can secure in Tucson.
Tucson’s 15-square-foot year-over-year gain was the eighth-largest increase in the country. The improvement is particularly notable because renters gained purchasing power in only 67 of the 200 cities studied. In most markets, rising rents reduced the amount of space available for the same monthly budget.
Although an additional 15 square feet may sound modest, it signals that Tucson rental prices have softened or grown more slowly relative to apartment sizes. For renters, the difference can mean space for a larger bedroom, additional storage or a small home-office area.
RentCafe calculated the results using average rents and apartment sizes in multifamily communities containing at least 50 units. The analysis was based on Yardi Matrix data as of March 2026.