Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Mesa?

Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Mesa?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Dallas, TX versus $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 14% higher in Mesa, AZ. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,209

+4% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,288

+1% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,458

+3% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,819

+17% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$364,300

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$78,779

+16% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,380

+0% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.2 yr

+3.8 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

42.4%

64.4%

+22.0 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

31.5%

+5.9 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

25.0 min

+1.0 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.7

485.8

+27% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,411.8

1,487.8

+56% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

75.1°F

+7.9°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

8.0 in

+29.5 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$5.57/gal

+41% in Mesa, AZ

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.00

+20% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.6

+5% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$19.69

+20% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Mesa, AZ

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / AZ)

6.25%

5.6%

+0.7 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Dallas vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Mesa?: Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Mesa?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).