High-paid out-of-state remote workers contribute to rising Tucson rent prices

Gabriela Rico

Since the pandemic, Tucson rents have increased twice as fast as local workers’ incomes.Yet, many new neighbors who relocated to Tucson during the pandemic to work remotely remark on the affordability of the market.Paid by employers from San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, for example, the workers’ incomes are much greater than the Tucson-based workers, which has led to confusion and resentment from local employees about rent prices.“For white-collar workers earning high salaries, remote work is a huge financial boon. It enables them to move from a tech center to a more affordable part of the country, get more home for their money and save some for a rainy day,” said Redfin Senior Economist Sheharyar Bokhari. “It can have the opposite effect on locals in those destinations — especially renters — who are watching from the sidelines as home prices skyrocket while their income stays mostly the same.”

Pe …