Is Mesa expensive to live in?

Mesa is on the pricier side of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,288 per month ranks #22 of 50 and is 5% higher than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Mesa?

Average rent in Mesa, AZ runs a studio around $1,209, a one-bedroom around $1,288, a two-bedroom around $1,458, a three-bedroom around $1,819 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Mesa?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,288 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year. The median household income here is $78,779.

How much does it cost to live in Mesa per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Mesa is about $1,460 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

An aerial view of a city with mountains in the background — Mesa, AZ

Cost of Living in Mesa, AZ

Population 511,648 · Arizona

~$1,460/mo est.1BR $1,288Home $364,300

Photo: Matthew Hamilton / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Mesa, AZ is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,288 a month — 5% higher than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,209 and two-bedrooms $1,458.

Median household income here is $78,779, about the same as the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,460 before food and transport. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,288

Studio

$1,209

1 Bedroom

$1,288

2 Bedroom

$1,458

3 Bedroom

$1,819

Buying a Home$364,300

Median Home Value

$364,300

Income$78,779

Median Household Income

$78,779

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities15.6¢/kWh

Electricity

15.6¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$19.69/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.57/gal

Regular Gasoline (West Coast (PADD 5))

$5.57/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$2.00

Base Fare (Valley Metro)

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (AZ)5.6% sales

State Sales Tax

5.60%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 2.50%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime485.8 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

485.8

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,487.8

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Mesa Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 37.2 yrs

Median Age

37.2 yrs

Homeownership

64.4%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

Avg Commute

25.0 min

Climate75.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

75.1°F

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

Mesa cost of living — FAQ

Is Mesa expensive to live in?: Mesa is on the pricier side of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,288 per month ranks #22 of 50 and is 5% higher than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Mesa?: Average rent in Mesa, AZ runs a studio around $1,209, a one-bedroom around $1,288, a two-bedroom around $1,458, a three-bedroom around $1,819 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Mesa?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,288 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year. The median household income here is $78,779.
How much does it cost to live in Mesa per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Mesa is about $1,460 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Mesa with nearby cities

Mesa vs Phoenix Mesa vs Tucson Mesa vs Las Vegas Mesa vs San Diego Mesa vs Albuquerque Mesa vs El Paso

Nearby cities

Phoenix, AZ 14 mi Tucson, AZ 96 mi Las Vegas, NV 267 mi San Diego, CA 312 mi Albuquerque, NM 318 mi El Paso, TX 331 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.