City comparison
Yes. Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 146 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tucson is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Tucson and Colorado Springs is significant: $57,073 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,145 in Tucson and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Tucson is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tucson is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Tucson at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Tucson and Colorado Springs are 571 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $503 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $27,745 (49%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 44 points (28%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Tucson are 571 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,145 a month in Tucson, down $503 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $57,073 in Tucson, down $27,745 (33%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 156 in Tucson, down 44 points (22%).
Tucson, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tucson and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Tucson rent is 31% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Tucson
Winner$1,145/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Tucson versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Tucson is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $503/month back in your pocket ($6,036/year). Over five years that's $30,180 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Colorado Springs, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tucson is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Tucson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
49% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 49% higher than Tucson
Tucson
$57,073
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $57,073 in Tucson, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Colorado Springs (about $27,745 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Colorado Springs is the stronger labor market on paper. Tucson can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Tucson's crime index is 22% lower than Colorado Springs
Tucson
Winner156 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Tucson. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Tucson is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Tucson weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Tucson
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Tucson averages about 77°F (84°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Tucson sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tucson scores 39% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Tucson is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Tucson if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tucson if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 39%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Tucson is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tucson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Colorado Springs (156 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 49% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,145/month in Tucson versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs. Median income reads $57,073 in Tucson and $84,818 in Colorado Springs, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Tucson rent at $1,145/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 77°F in Tucson and 55°F in Colorado Springs.
Pick Tucson when shaving $503 off rent at $1,145/month is the priority. Otherwise, Colorado Springs's case rests on $1,648/month rent with $84,818 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tucson and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in AZ and CO.
