Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Mesa?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Mesa?

Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Green Bay vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 21% higher in Mesa, AZ. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$707

$1,209

+71% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$730

$1,288

+76% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$956

$1,458

+53% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,287

$1,819

+41% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$191,500

$364,300

+90% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$62,546

$78,779

+26% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,940

$51,380

+3% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

37.2 yr

+1.5 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

55.9%

64.4%

+8.5 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.5%

31.5%

+6.0 pp in Mesa, AZ

Avg Commute

18.9 min

25.0 min

+6.1 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

501.7

486.2

+3% in Green Bay, WI

Property Crime

1,331.2

1,488

+12% in Mesa, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.3°F

75.1°F

+30.8°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

29.5 in

8.0 in

+21.5 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Mesa, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) 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)

19.7

15.2

+23% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$22.44

+90% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Green Bay, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / AZ)

5.6%

+0.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

2.50%

+5.2 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Mesa?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Mesa?: Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).