A
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
15%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Mesa Arizona National
Cost of living116101100
Goods & Services115104100
Groceries103102100
Health care9894100
Housing12897100
Transportation124106100
Utilities9895100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Mesa, AZ

Knowing the cost of living in Mesa allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Mesa stands at 116, marking it 16% higher than the national average.

When it comes to the cost of living in Mesa, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 28% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Mesa, these items will cost you 15% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Mesa?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 27 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Mesa. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 48% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 52% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Mesa Affordable?

Is Mesa affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Mesa, the median home price is 32.9% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 16.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Mesa boasting a median household income of $61,640, 11.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Mesa?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Mesa comes in at 1.6% lower than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Mesa, the housing index is 28% higher than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Mesa, the groceries index is 2.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Mesa, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Mesa is 15% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Mesa is 16% higher than the national average
  • Mesa housing is 28% higher than the national average
  • Arizona general sales tax is 10% higher than the national average
  • Arizona state income tax is 4% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Mesa

See all the best places to live around Mesa

Compare Mesa, AZ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$76,427$6,369$1,783$2,293
      Renters$43,177$3,598$1,007$1,295
      The affordability of the housing market in Mesa, AZ as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Mesa homeowners, the median income is $76,427. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,783 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $43,177. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,007 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Arizona Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arizona 5.6% 10.725%

      Arizona Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arizona 2.5% 2.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Mesa National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.99$24.2631.9%
      Beauty Salon $51.63$45.5613.3%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.3%
      Movie $12.43$12.132.5%
      Bowling $24.03$18.0033.5%

      Groceries

      Item Mesa National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.47$1.576.7%
      Milk $4.84$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $4.54$4.937.9%
      Pizza $13.22$12.099.3%
      Beer $11.37$10.419.2%

      Health Care

      Item Mesa National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $105.08$125.6816.4%
      Doctor $126.58$135.786.8%
      Dentist $108.47$113.294.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.93$10.652.6%
      Lipitor $529.92$468.6013.1%

      Housing

      Item Mesa National avg. Difference
      Home Price $245,500.00$184,700.0032.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,990.52$2,346.6927.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,105.00$949.0016.4%

      Transportation

      Item Mesa National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.63$59.9211.2%

      Utilities

      Item Mesa National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.37$193.990.3%
      Phone $184.32$192.254.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Guadalupe, AZ6,5729010.4%
      Maricopa Colony, AZ8181022.0%
      Phoenix, AZ1,658,4221066.4%
      Tempe, AZ191,60711211.8%
      Sun Lakes, AZ14,88712525.1%
      Mesa, AZ508,91811615.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sacramento, CA503,48213231.8%
      Atlanta, GA497,64211615.8%
      Fresno, CA526,14711616.5%
      Kansas City, MO491,158946.2%
      Omaha, NE479,529964.3%
      Mesa, AZ508,91811615.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.