Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 20% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,209
+21% in Mesa, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,288
+22% in Mesa, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,458
+2% in Mesa, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,819
+7% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$364,300
+3% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$78,779
+20% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$51,380
+15% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.2 yr
+2.3 yr in Mesa, AZ
Homeownership
63.7%
64.4%
+0.7 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
31.5%
+6.2 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
25.0 min
+6.0 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
486.2
+52% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,488
+47% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
75.1°F
+37.7°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
8.0 in
+9.9 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.09/gal
about equal

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
15.2
+46% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$22.44
+56% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / AZ)
None
5.6%
+5.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
None
2.50%
+2.5 pp in AZ

Anchorage vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Mesa?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Mesa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Mesa?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).