Apartment List May 2025 Report Highlights Slower Rent Growth in Southern Arizona
TUCSON, ARIZONA (April 30, 2025) – The latest Apartment List Rent Report for May 2025 shows continued downward pressure on rental prices in Tucson, with the citywide median rent falling to $1,059. That marks a 0.6% decline over the past month and a 2.9% drop compared to last year's period, positioning Tucson behind the Arizona state average (-2.7%) and the national average (-0.3%).
According to the report, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Tucson is now $884, while two-bedroom units average $1,134. So far in 2025, rents have declined 0.9%, a steeper drop than during the same period in 2024, when the year-to-date decline was just 0.3%.
This downward trend represents a shift from prior years. Tucson saw significant rent growth in 2021 with a 21.4% increase, followed by more modest gains in 2022 and 2023. However, rents began softening in 2024 with a 2.1% annual decrease, and that trajectory has continued into the first quarter of 2025.
Tucson ranked #97 for rent growth among the nation’s 100 largest cities in April, falling alongside markets like Detroit, MI (-0.6%) and Huntsville, AL (-0.7%). In contrast, the national rent average rose 0.5% over the same period, led by cities like Chicago, IL, which posted a 2.1% monthly increase.
Despite declining prices, Tucson remains one of the more affordable rental markets in the U.S., with its median rent ranking 94th among the 100 largest cities. The city’s median rent is 23.9% below the national average of $1,392 and remains comparable to peer cities such as Detroit ($1,062) and Cleveland ($1,049).
Apartment List’s rent estimates are based on a blend of U.S. Census Bureau data and proprietary listing data. The methodology utilizes a same-unit analysis, similar to the Case-Shiller approach, tracking changes in specific apartments over time to provide a more accurate reflection of market conditions.
For more information or to view the full Tucson report, visit www.apartmentlist.com.