Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA versus $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 15% higher in Mesa, AZ. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA
Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$1,209
+13% in Mesa, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,288
+24% in Mesa, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$1,458
+13% in Mesa, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,819
+8% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$364,300
+5% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$78,779
+18% in Mesa, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$51,380
+10% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
37.2 yr
+4.8 yr in Mesa, AZ
Homeownership
49.7%
64.4%
+14.7 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
31.5%
+6.6 pp in Mesa, AZ
Avg Commute
22.3 min
25.0 min
+2.7 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
741.9
485.8
+35% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,334.2
1,487.8
+55% in Fresno, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
75.1°F
+10.7°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
8.0 in
+3.5 in in Fresno, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$5.57/gal
+6% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Mesa, AZ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
15.6
+53% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$19.69
+5% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / AZ)
7.25%
5.6%
+1.7 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.50%
+10.8 pp in CA

Fresno vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Mesa?
Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Mesa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Mesa?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).