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Cost of Living · Arizona

Mesa Cost of Living

Mesa, Arizona costs approximately 3.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.97×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Mesa ranks 5 of 7 cities in Arizona by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Mesa (58)
San Francisco, CA
+49.5% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+39.2% more expensive
New York City, NY
+36.1% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+34.0% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+34.0% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+25.8% more expensive
Boston, MA
+25.8% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+24.7% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+23.7% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+23.7% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+21.6% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+21.6% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+21.6% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+21.6% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+18.6% more expensive
Miami, FL
+15.5% more expensive
Portland, OR
+13.4% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+13.4% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+13.4% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+13.4% more expensive
Denver, CO
+11.3% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+8.2% more expensive
Austin, TX
+8.2% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+8.2% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+8.2% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+8.2% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+8.2% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+8.2% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+7.2% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+7.2% more expensive
Plano, TX
+7.2% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+7.2% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+5.2% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+5.2% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+5.2% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+5.2% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+5.2% more expensive
Reno, NV
+5.2% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+5.2% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+5.2% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+5.2% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+4.1% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+3.1% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+3.1% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+3.1% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+3.1% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+3.1% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+3.1% more expensive
Boise, ID
+3.1% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+3.1% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+3.1% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+2.1% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+2.1% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+2.1% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+2.1% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+2.1% more expensive
Madison, WI
+2.1% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+1.0% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Mesa (39)
Houston, TX
−1.0% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−1.0% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−1.0% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−1.0% cheaper
Garland, TX
−1.0% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−1.0% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−2.1% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−2.1% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−2.1% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−3.1% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−3.1% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−3.1% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−4.1% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−4.1% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−5.2% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−5.2% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−5.2% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−5.2% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−5.2% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−5.2% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−5.2% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−5.2% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−5.2% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−6.2% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−6.2% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−6.2% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−6.2% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−7.2% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−7.2% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−7.2% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−8.2% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−8.2% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−8.2% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−9.3% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−9.3% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−9.3% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−11.3% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−11.3% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−11.3% cheaper

What living in Mesa costs

Mesa carries a cost index of 0.97x the national baseline, placing it above 39 of the 99 metros tracked and below 58. Rent runs about $1,250 monthly; the median home is near $430,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 29, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Mesa is a metro of roughly 5.0M and growing fast, running on aerospace/defense, healthcare, education. Larger employers include Banner Health, Boeing, City of Mesa.

Arizona taxes income at the state level, and Mesa adds no separate city tax. Cost-of-living indexes exclude income tax entirely, so compare after-tax figures rather than index ratios when weighing this metro against one in a no-income-tax state.

Getting around: Mesa is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Hot desert climate: January lows near 46°F, July highs near 106°F, extremely dry.

Part of the Phoenix metro; Mesa regularly logs 100+ days per year above 100°F, and Arizona's flat 2.5% state income tax applies with no added city rate.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mesa expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, roughly average — the cost index is 0.97x, above 39 and below 58 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,250 a month and the median home $430,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Mesa?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,250 a month implies about $50,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.