What is the cost of living in Mesa, AZ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mesa has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arizona, Mesa has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arizona's index of 100.
The standard of living in Mesa ranks as #55 most affordable out of the 91 places we measured in Arizona. By definition, that implies Mesa ranks as the #36 most expensive place in the Grand Canyon State.
For more reading on life in Mesa, check out:
Mesa Cost Of Living Vs. Arizona
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mesa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mesa is 105.
The Groceries index in Mesa is 105.
The Health index in Mesa is 132.
The Housing index in Mesa is 102.
The Transportation index in Mesa is 113.
The Utilities index in Mesa is 102.
| Living Expense | Mesa | Arizona | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 100 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 132 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 104 | 100 |
Mesa Cost Of Living Compared To Arizona Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Arizona, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Mesa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mesa, AZ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arizona, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Mesa is $435,133.
The Median Rent in Mesa is $1,620.
The Median Income in Mesa is $82,752.
The Home Value To Income in Mesa is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mesa is 0.23x.
Mesa, AZ Costs By Category
Detailed Mesa Services costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Mesa Groceries costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Mesa Health costs vs. Arizona
Detailed Mesa Transportation costs vs. Arizona
Mesa SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mesa
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mesa. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Gilbert, AZ has a cost of living index of 129, 1.2x Mesa.
Chandler, AZ has a cost of living index of 125, 1.1x Mesa.
Tempe, AZ has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x Mesa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mesa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert, AZ | 280,262 | 129 | 1.2x |
| Chandler, AZ | 280,136 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Tempe, AZ | 188,065 | 117 | 1.0x |
| San Tan Valley, AZ | 109,189 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Goodyear, AZ | 107,645 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Queen Creek, AZ | 71,867 | 132 | 1.2x |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 41,058 | 92 | 0.8x |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 23,789 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Sun Lakes, AZ | 13,924 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Gold Canyon, AZ | 13,107 | 117 | 1.0x |
