Have you ever been scraping ice off your windshield in the dead of winter and thought to yourself, ”I wish I lived somewhere warmer?” The winter blues can get anyone down, so shove those blues away by living where it’s always warm and sunny – Arizona.
Arizona has long been a destination for snowbirds, outdoor enthusiasts, and others who want to leave behind the snow and cold for the high temperatures and bright sunshine, but where should you live? Arizona is a big state, but we’ve picked out three great cities to look at first for great rentals and plenty of things to do.
Houses For Rent in Phoenix
A sprawling city in the desert, Phoenix has all types of rentals from urban condos to suburban ranches. If you want all the amenities and things to do in a big city, Phoenix is the place to call home in Arizona. Thanks to year-round warm temperatures and sunshine, Phoenix is a sports lover's paradise with teams in all four major professional sports plus countless minor and amateur leagues.
Population: 1.62 million (2017)
Average Rental Price for Phoenix
The average monthly rental price of a 1-bedroom rental in Phoenix is $928. A 2-bedroom averages $1,147, while a 3-bedroom costs approximately $1,659 per month. The average rental rates decrease the further you get away from Phoenix’s city center. Phoenix rental rates are higher than the Arizona state average.
Things to do In and Around Phoenix
It’s difficult to run out of things to do in Phoenix, even with very few bad weather days. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast you have Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Park, urbanites have the Musical Instrument Museum and the Desert Botanical Garden, and culture lovers have the Phoenix Art Museum. It doesn’t matter if you like the outdoors, sports, food, art, or stuff for the family – Phoenix has it covered.
Houses for Rent in Flagstaff
When most picture Arizona they picture a desert, but Arizona is much more diverse than that, particularly Flagstaff. Flagstaff has many great amenities but is also on the doorstep of the San Francisco Peaks, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument among many other outdoor hotspots. Despite the nearby outdoor amenities Flagstaff also has several restaurants, shopping districts, and other amenities to take care of living needs.
Population: 71,975 (2017)
Average Rental Price for Flagstaff
The average monthly rental price of a 1-bedroom rental in Flagstaff is $1,033. A 2-bedroom averages $1,267, while a 3-bedroom costs approximately $1,650 per month. The average rental rates decrease the further you get away from Flagstaff’s city center. Flagstaff rental rates are higher than the Arizona state average, but that increased cost of living comes with the perks of an increased quality of life.
Things to do In and Around Flagstaff
Flagstaff is close to all sorts of high desert and mountainous adventure. We already mentioned a few outdoor hotspots, but you also have the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Coconino National Forest, and Flagstaff is less than a two-hour drive from Grand Canyon National Park. If you’re more of an indoors person you have the Lowell Observatory, the Historic Downtown, and Railroad District, and the Museum of Northern Arizona to name a few.
Houses for Rent in Tucson AZ
A nice split between a highly populated town like Phoenix and a smaller town like Flagstaff, Tucson offers both big town amenities with small-town charm. Tucson’s mix of different cultures and lifestyles has led to a fascinating and diverse city with plenty of hip places to eat, luxurious amenities, and much more mixed with the young fun of the University of Arizona. Tucson is an excellent Arizona locale for young professionals and families.
Population: 535,677
Average Rental Price for Tucson
The average monthly rental price of a 1-bedroom rental in Tucson is $727. A 2-bedroom averages $962, while a 3-bedroom costs approximately $1,391 per month. Tucson rental rates decrease the further you get away from Tucson’s city center. The average rental rates in Tucson are below the Arizona state average.
Things to do In and Around Tucson
Like Flagstaff, much of the recreation in and around Tucson has to do with the great outdoors. You can visit the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway, Sabino Canyon, or Saguaro National Park for starters. Thanks to multicultural influence Tucson also has many other points of interest like the Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tohono Chul Park, and much more. Tucson also has local breweries, several great places to eat, and mom-and-pop shops for fun in town.
Finding the Best Rental in Arizona
Arizona is a great place to live for sunshine, outdoor adventure, and warm temperatures no matter the time of year. If you’re ready for a move, find available houses for rent by owner in Arizona on our classifieds section. There are houses, apartments, condos, and more to meet your needs and unique Arizona lifestyle.
Photo credit: Dietmar Rabich, Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA), South Rim nahe Tusayan -- 2012 -- 9, CC BY-SA 4.0
