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Nogales, AZ

Cost of living in Santa Cruz County, AZ

Estimated monthly cost
$2,709/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 48,209 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $849 31%
Healthcare $480 18%
Federal tax $398 15%
Groceries $341 13%
Transport $320 12%
Energy $189 7%
State tax $72 3%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Santa Cruz County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$764
per month
1 bedroom
$849
per month
2 bedroom
$1,114
per month
3 bedroom
$1,561
per month
4 bedroom
$1,570
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Santa Cruz County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$53,614
per year
Individual earnings
$34,404
per year
Per capita
$25,634
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Santa Cruz County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$216,100
Annual property tax
$1,387

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Santa Cruz County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$150
per month · 14.3¢/kWh
Natural gas
$39
per month
Annual total
$2,268
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Santa Cruz County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
14.5%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Santa Cruz County

State and local tax rates for Arizona.

State income tax
2.5%
Flat rate
State sales tax
5.6%
Combined sales tax
8.4%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Santa Cruz County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
24.3 min
Drive alone
78.5%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
6.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Santa Cruz County

What it costs to live in Santa Cruz County each month.

Single person
$2,709
per month
  • Rent $849
  • Energy $189
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $341
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $398
  • State tax $72
Couple
$3,919
per month
  • Rent $1,114
  • Energy $227
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $565
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $547
  • State tax $112
Family
$6,516
per month
  • Rent $1,561
  • Energy $284
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $857
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $547
  • State tax $112

Frequently asked questions about Santa Cruz County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Santa Cruz County?

In Santa Cruz County, AZ, a one-bedroom apartment averages $849 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,114 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,561 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Santa Cruz County?

In Santa Cruz County, AZ, the average household income is $53,614 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $34,404 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Santa Cruz County?

The estimated cost of living in Santa Cruz County, AZ is approximately $2,709 per month for a single person, $3,919 for a couple, $6,516 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Santa Cruz County?

The combined sales tax rate in Santa Cruz County, AZ is 8.37%, which includes the Arizona state rate of 5.60% plus an average local rate of 2.77%.

Is Santa Cruz County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Santa Cruz County, AZ would need approximately $2,709 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $53,614 per year ($4,468 per month). Santa Cruz County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Santa Cruz County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Santa Cruz County, AZ is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 14.5% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Santa Cruz County?

The average home value in Santa Cruz County, AZ is $216,100, with average annual property taxes of $1,387, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Santa Cruz County compare to other areas?

You can compare Santa Cruz County, AZ with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Santa Cruz County is in the Nogales, AZ metro area.

Other counties in Arizona

Browse the full list of counties in Arizona, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Arizona

Compare Santa Cruz County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources