Last updated
Average Rent in Phoenix 85281 & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 6 apartment communities in Phoenix 85281, Phoenix AZ. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,318/mo
▼ 3.6% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,489/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
6
tracked daily
Units Listed
15
available now
Phoenix 85281 vs Phoenix AZ Average
Phoenix 85281 is more expensive the Phoenix AZ average by $80/mo (4%). The citywide average is $2,238/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Phoenix 85281?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Phoenix 85281 is $2,318 per month across 6 apartment communities and 15 available units. Rents have decreased $76 (3.6%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is VERVE Tempe starting at $1,489/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $2,318/mo.
Prices range from $1,489 to $3,360 per month. The most common price point is the $2,200 range, where 3 units are currently listed.
Phoenix 85281 Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Phoenix 85281
Rent Prices by Apartment in Phoenix 85281
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERVE Tempe | $1,489/mo | $1,489/mo | 1 | 5 |
| Residences on Farmer | $1,499/mo | $2,011/mo | 3 | 3.1 |
| Skywater at Tempe Town Lake | $1,880/mo | $2,427/mo | 5 | 3.7 |
| Hudson on Farmer | $2,340/mo | $2,368/mo | 2 | 4.1 |
| Emerson Mill Avenue | $2,474/mo | $2,479/mo | 2 | 4.5 |
| Vero | $2,536/mo | $2,711/mo | 2 | 4.3 |
Google Search Trends for Phoenix 85281 Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Phoenix 85281
What is the average rent in Phoenix 85281?
Is rent going up or down in Phoenix 85281?
What is the cheapest apartment in Phoenix 85281?
How many apartments are available in Phoenix 85281?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Phoenix 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
$93,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,318/mo.
Comfortable income
$111,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,489/mo), you need to earn at least $60,000/year.
Median household income in Phoenix 85281 is $77,041 , about 31% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Phoenix 85281
Overall prices in Phoenix 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 Phoenix 85281's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,318 |
| Utilities | $534 |
| Groceries | $531 |
| Transportation | $1,274 |
| Healthcare | $621 |
| Other goods and services | $994 |
| Estimated total | $6,274/mo |
Population
1,624,832
Median household income
$77,041
Census median rent
$1,458/mo
Rent as % of income
30.4%
Median age
34.8
Mean commute
26 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
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
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
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.
Explore Phoenix 85281 Apartments
Browse all 6 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.