Advise cheap safe town with cool weather (Phoenix, Tucson: rentals, how much)

[strangger]

Hi!
Looking for a town/city with cheap rent (studio/1br or room in a private house), safe, and were weather is not too hot (just doesn't feel like desert in summer).

My car is over 20 years old, therefore I would prefer to stay away from areas that require any kind of emissions testing (VIN check or safety check shouldn't be an issue). I believe Phoenix area does require emissions test, so it won't work for me. How far from Phoenix emissions test is required?

Rent doesn't have to be absolutely lowest - don't really know how much is rent in Arizona, so its hard for me to give any estimate. Say if there's frequent shooting - I would rather pay 100$ more for more safe place.

Average city size is best (say 10K-100K people). Like nature and not a fan of very big cities with very high density of people.
Schools or jobs doesn't matter (work remotely).
Some tolerance to foreigners is important.
Don't need clubs/night life - as long as there's grocery store, dentist and auto parts store, and amazon delivery can get there that would work
I know pretty much nothing about Arizona - any advise is welcome!
Considering other states around California too.
Thank you!

[Sno0909]

It boggles my mind how people seem to just throw a dart at a map and decide to move somewhere. Anyhow, I guess I will go with Prescott, Payson, Show Low, Flagstaff, etc. Given you have provided no context for what you consider "cheap" this is all just wild stabs in the dark.

[KurtAZ]

Payson is not cheap and rentals are few and far between. (think $1500 for a 1 bed) And if they are remote working the un-reliability of the local Internet in that town would be a no go...but StarLink is available there so that may be the saving grace.

Prescott summers are still very warm, I wouldn't call the rents "cheap"

Show Low is getting expensive as well and they get almost as much snow as Flagstaff

Flagstaff? Really? Poverty with a view? Rents are stupid expensive with NAU there.

Course if the OP is coming from Cali then anything less than $2k could be considered "Cheap"

I hear Holbrook is an up and coming place. Or maybe try Sierra Vista? Oro Valley (Tucson)?

Of course this post begs the question...why AZ? If the OP has never been here or explored the state...just trying to get out of CA like everyone else?

[TheYO]

Sierra Vista seems like the best fit. No clue what the rental scene is like, but housing prices are very affordable. Mild climate too

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Payson is not cheap and rentals are few and far between. (think $1500 for a 1 bed) And if they are remote working the un-reliability of the local Internet in that town would be a no go...but StarLink is available there so that may be the saving grace.

Prescott summers are still very warm, I wouldn't call the rents "cheap"

Show Low is getting expensive as well and they get almost as much snow as Flagstaff

Flagstaff? Really? Poverty with a view? Rents are stupid expensive with NAU there.

Course if the OP is coming from Cali then anything less than $2k could be considered "Cheap"

I hear Holbrook is an up and coming place. Or maybe try Sierra Vista? Oro Valley (Tucson)?

Of course this post begs the question...why AZ? If the OP has never been here or explored the state...just trying to get out of CA like everyone else?

Just trying to throw out cities that fit most of his criteria. With having no concept of their definition of "cheap" I assumed everything is fair game.

[strangger]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Of course this post begs the question...why AZ? If the OP has never been here or explored the state...just trying to get out of CA like everyone else?

Yes, have no any preferance for Arizona. yes, just trying to get of CA.
The only reason I started with AZ is that its just the closest to CA, and I will need to rent U-Haul or similar (U-Haul cost 3300$ to Kansas e.g.).

Just found about SB 1070 bill - may be AZ isn't for foreigners at all?

[strangger]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Course if the OP is coming from Cali then anything less than $2k could be considered "Cheap"

I am not in Los Angeles or big city (in CA). Really have no idea whats reasonable rent for AZ or nearby states. Up to 700$ for a studio (or master bedroom with private bath) is good. Don't need a house.

[strangger]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

It boggles my mind how people seem to just throw a dart at a map and decide to move somewhere. Anyhow, I guess I will go with Prescott, Payson, Show Low, Flagstaff, etc. Given you have provided no context for what you consider "cheap" this is all just wild stabs in the dark.

Unfortunately, I cannot afford to do months of research, just looking to stretch a dollar asap and get out of CA asap (and get rid of SMOG check headache).

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by strangger

Yes, have no any preferance for Arizona. yes, just trying to get of CA.
The only reason I started with AZ is that its just the closest to CA, and I will need to rent U-Haul or similar (U-Haul cost 3300$ to Kansas e.g.).

Just found about SB 1070 bill - may be AZ isn't for foreigners at all?

This again? SB 1070 was 11 years ago. Much has changed here since then.

And I have no clue where you can live in a safe place for $700 anymore.

[strangger]

Originally Posted by TheYO

Sierra Vista seems like the best fit. No clue what the rental scene is like, but housing prices are very affordable. Mild climate too

Thank you!