Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Mesa?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Mesa?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Mesa?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 8% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

—

$1,209

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,288

+13% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,458

+36% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,819

+22% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$364,300

+47% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$78,779

+8% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$51,380

+18% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

37.2 yr

+1.9 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

46.0%

64.4%

+18.4 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

31.5%

+9.9 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

25.0 min

+6.3 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

485.8

+49% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,366.6

1,487.8

+56% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

75.1°F

+24.9°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

8.0 in

+7.6 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$5.57/gal

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$2.00

+27% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

15.6

+7% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$19.69

+69% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / AZ)

2.9%

5.6%

+2.7 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

2.50%

+1.9 pp in CO

Aurora vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Mesa?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Mesa?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).