Phoenix, U.S.A.
Living in Tempe, Phoenix
ASU college town with vibrant nightlife. Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake, and startup culture.
A one-bedroom in Tempe rents for about $1,500 - $1,800/month — a safe area (safety 4/5), roughly 15 minutes from Phoenix center by metro.
Commute to Center
15 min
metro
Safety Rating
4/5
SafeVibe
collegenightlifeyoung
Rent in Tempe
Monthly rent in USD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $1,300 - $1,600/mo | $1,500 - $1,800/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,600 - $2,000/mo | $1,800 - $2,200/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,100 - $2,500/mo | $2,300 - $2,800/mo |
How Tempe compares in Phoenix
Within AffordWhere's Phoenix dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $1,650/month — roughly 6% below the city median, and among the more affordable of the 6 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $1,800 - $2,200/month and three-bedrooms $2,300 - $2,800/month on second-hand contracts. At 15 minutes to the center by metro, it sits closer to the center than most Phoenix areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the college, nightlife, young tags, it may suit value-conscious renters and students.
Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Mesa.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps 6th St / Mill Ave as the nearest tram stop, Ragsdale-MLK Park as nearby green space and 5th Street Deli and Market as the nearest supermarket around the Tempe reference point. It also shows a large number of cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in Tempe, Phoenix?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in Tempe costs $1,500 - $1,800/month (second-hand contract) or $1,300 - $1,600/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $1,800 - $2,200/month, and a 3-bedroom from $2,300 - $2,800/month.
- Is Tempe safe for expats?
- Tempe has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.
- How long is the commute from Tempe to Phoenix center?
- The commute from Tempe to Phoenix city center takes approximately 15 minutes by metro.
- What is Tempe like to live in?
- ASU college town with vibrant nightlife. Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake, and startup culture. In our data it is tagged as college, nightlife, young.
Other neighborhoods in Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix
0 min walk to center
1BR from $1,600/mo
urbanartstransit
Scottsdale
25 min car to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
upscaleresortnightlife
Chandler
25 min car to center
1BR from $1,600/mo
techfamily-friendlysuburban
Mesa
30 min car to center
1BR from $1,400/mo
affordablesportssuburban
Gilbert
35 min car to center
1BR from $1,600/mo
family-friendlysafesuburban
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