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Average Rent in Tempe 85281 & Rent Trends

What is the average rent in Tempe 85281?

The average listed apartment rent in Tempe 85281 is $1,155 per month, last observed October 8, 2026. This sample includes 11 priced apartments in 1 building. Current availability is not confirmed.

We use published total monthly rent when known and base rent otherwise. Unknown fees remain unknown. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.

Rent prices and market trends across 1 apartment community in Tempe 85281, Phoenix, AZ. Prices update after successful source checks.

Area All Areas Arcadia Lite Cavalier Campus Central City Desert View Village Maryvale Village North Mountain Village South Scottsdale
Phoenix 85004 85033 85034 85051
Tempe 85281
Beds All Bedrooms Studio 1 Bed 2 Bed 3 Bed 4 Bed

Showing any bedrooms in Tempe 85281.

Market Average

$1,155/mo

Lowest Listed

$875/mo

as of Oct 8

Communities

1

tracked daily

Units Listed

11

as of Oct 8

Rent Watch: cuts and increases

Open Rent Watch →

See current options while we confirm new price comparisons. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.

Tempe 85281 vs Phoenix, AZ Average

Tempe 85281 is cheaper than the Phoenix, AZ average by $730/mo (39%). The citywide average is $1,885/mo across all neighborhoods.

Is Rent Going Up or Down in Tempe 85281?

As of October 2026, the average rent in Tempe 85281 is $1,155 per month across 1 apartment community and 11 recently listed units.

The most affordable option is Union Tempe starting at $875/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,379/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $1,600/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $1,095/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $999/mo.

Prices range from $875 to $1,600 per month. The most common price point is the $800 range, where 4 units were listed.

Average Rent by Bedroom

Rent Price Distribution

Rent by Bedroom Type in Tempe 85281

Studio
$1,379
from $1,379 · 1 units
1 Bed
$1,600
from $1,600 · 1 units
2 Bed
$1,095
from $920 · 5 units
4 Bed
$999
from $999 · 1 units

Rent Prices by Apartment in Tempe 85281

Property Starting at Average Units Rating
Union Tempe $875/mo $1,155/mo 11 4.2

Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Tempe 85281

How many bedrooms are you looking for?

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What is the average rent in Tempe 85281?
The average listed apartment rent in Tempe 85281 is $1,155 per month, last observed October 8, 2026. This sample includes 11 priced apartments in 1 building. Current availability is not confirmed.

What rent range can I find in Tempe 85281?
The apartment listings we track in Tempe 85281 range from $875 to $1,600 per month, last verified October 8, 2026. These are the lowest and highest listed prices. They are not a typical price for every apartment. The building, floor plan, and lease terms can affect the price.

Are rents going up or down in Tempe 85281?
There is not enough comparable history to report a reliable 30-day rent change for apartment listings in Tempe 85281. Missing dates or a change in the buildings we track can prevent a comparison. Missing history does not mean rents stayed flat.

How much is a studio apartment in Tempe 85281?
Studio apartments average $1,379 per month across 1 priced listing in Tempe 85281. Listed rents range from $1,379 to $1,379 per month, last verified October 8, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Tempe 85281?
1-bedroom apartments average $1,600 per month across 1 priced listing in Tempe 85281. Listed rents range from $1,600 to $1,600 per month, last verified October 8, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Tempe 85281?
2-bedroom apartments average $1,095 per month across 5 priced listings in Tempe 85281. Listed rents range from $920 to $1,300 per month, last verified October 8, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

How much is a 4-bedroom apartment in Tempe 85281?
4-bedroom apartments average $999 per month across 1 priced listing in Tempe 85281. Listed rents range from $999 to $999 per month, last verified October 8, 2026. Compare apartments with similar floor plans and lease terms.

Which tracked building has the lowest starting rent in Tempe 85281?
Union Tempe has the lowest starting rent among the buildings in the comparison table, at $875 per month. We track 11 priced listings matching your bedroom choice in that building, last verified October 8, 2026. The starting price applies to its lowest-priced matching apartment. Check that apartment's latest price and availability.

Which rent range has the most listings in Tempe 85281?
The $800 to $1,000 monthly range has the most matching listings: 4 units, or 36.4% of the priced apartments we track in Tempe 85281. This count does not tell us how fast the apartments rent.

How many apartment listings do you track in Tempe 85281?
We track 11 priced units at 1 apartment building, last verified October 8, 2026. These are previously listed units. They are not a confirmed count of apartments available today.

How much rent history is available for Tempe 85281?
We do not yet have enough accepted price records to draw a history chart for apartment listings in Tempe 85281. Current asking prices can appear before rent history is ready. We do not fill missing history with zero or with prices for a different bedroom count.

Why can the headline rent differ from the trend chart in Tempe 85281?
The average at the top of the page gives each matching apartment equal weight. The chart first averages recorded prices within each building, then compares buildings. It removes the highest and lowest groups when at least ten buildings contribute and omits days with fewer than five buildings. Different dates, building counts, and listing mixes can produce different figures. The monthly table averages the recorded daily figures.

Does my bedroom choice change the prices and answers?
Yes. Your chosen area and bedroom count filter the asking rents, listing counts, rent ranges, and answers on this page. When you choose a bedroom count, the history chart uses recorded prices for matching apartments with a known identity. If those records are missing, we leave the chart empty rather than use prices for other bedroom types. Open an individual apartment to check its own price history.

Do these rents include utilities, parking, and other fees?
We use the published total monthly rent when it is available and the base rent otherwise. Unknown fees are not zero. Utilities, parking, pet charges, deposits, and one-time costs can add to the amount you pay. Check the selected unit and lease terms for a complete quote.

How should I compare free-rent offers with listed rent?
A free-rent offer can reduce the effective cost over a lease without changing the listed monthly rent. Compare the same lease length and move-in date, then include required charges and the offer conditions. The market averages do not assume an unconfirmed discount.

Does this page represent every rental in the market?
These figures describe the priced apartment listings we track, not every rental home or every occupied apartment. Coverage and the mix of bedrooms, buildings, and locations can change. A lower market average does not prove that the same apartment received a price cut.

How fresh are the Tempe 85281 rent figures?
The listed prices were last verified October 8, 2026. They describe previously listed units, not confirmed availability today. Open the building and apartment details to check for a newer price.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Tempe 85281?

Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.

Minimum to afford average rent

$46,000/year

Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,155/mo.

Comfortable income

$55,000/year

Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.

To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($875/mo), you need to earn at least $35,000/year.

Median household income in Tempe 85281 is $77,041 , about 39% above the comfortable-living threshold.

Explore Tempe 85281 Apartments

Browse all 1 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.

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Cost of living in Tempe 85281

Overall prices in Tempe 85281 runs above the national average by about 5% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 104.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Tempe 85281's regional price parities.

Category Monthly estimate
Rent (market average) $1,155
Utilities $534
Groceries $531
Transportation $1,274
Healthcare $621
Other goods and services $994
Estimated total $5,111/mo

Population

1,624,832

Median household income

$77,041

Census median rent

$1,458/mo

Census rent burden

30.4%

Median age

34.8

Mean commute

26 min

Methodology

Rent data

We use listed asking rents and schedule daily data updates. Individual buildings can have different verification dates. Check the building or unit page for its latest price and availability.

Cost of living

Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.

Salary to live comfortably

We estimate annual income by dividing annual rent by 30 percent for the affordability figure and 25 percent for the comfortable-income figure. These estimates are a guide, not a guarantee of rental approval.

Demographic figures

Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.

Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Arizona Rent Trends
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