AC replacement cost in Arizona

Arizona’s installed cost index is 0.97 — about 3% below the national average. Against national installed ranges for a code-minimum straight-cool split (labeled estimates, because published 2025-2026 sources disagree by 40-50% at the same tonnage), that means: 2-ton $4,000-$8,500, 3-ton $5,000-$11,000, 4-ton $6,000-$13,500, 5-ton $7,000-$15,000, with Arizona quotes typically landing near or slightly under those bands. Stepping up efficiency runs roughly 1.15x for 16-17 SEER2 and 1.35x for 18+.

Code minimum here is stricter than the national floor. Arizona is in the Southwest region, so a new split AC must certify at 14.3 SEER2 and also clear an EER2 floor — 11.7 EER2 below 15.2 SEER2, or 9.8 EER2 at 15.2 and above. EER2 is rated at 95°F outdoor dry bulb, so it reflects performance during Arizona’s sustained peak heat, and the standard applies by installation date: a lower-rated combination legally cannot be installed in the state.

The permit line item can be zero in Phoenix. Under TRT/DOC/00687, a strict like-for-like changeout — same location, same footprint and weight, no duct, penetration, or electrical changes — can be approved as permit-exempt, so nothing gets passed through for a permit. Any of those changes triggers one, and fees vary by city with no verified statewide range.

In Tucson, TEP’s Efficient Home Program takes money off the invoice directly: up to $600 instant on a high-efficiency AC or $720 on a heat pump quality installation, deducted from the purchase price when you use a participating contractor and retire the old unit.