Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.

Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Minneapolis?

Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Mesa vs Minneapolis Cost of Living 2026

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,460 in Mesa, AZ versus $1,350 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 2% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ

Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,209

$992

+18% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,288

$1,192

+7% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,458

$1,555

+7% in Minneapolis, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,761

+3% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$364,300

$345,600

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$78,779

$80,269

+2% in Minneapolis, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$59,320

+15% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

33.0 yr

+4.2 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

64.4%

48.0%

+16.4 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

54.5%

+23.0 pp in Minneapolis, MN

Avg Commute

25.0 min

22.5 min

+2.5 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.8

1,167.8

+140% in Minneapolis, MN

Property Crime

1,487.8

5,182.6

+248% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

75.1°F

47.4°F

+27.7°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

32.8 in

+24.8 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.25/gal

+24% in Mesa, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

15.1

+3% in Mesa, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.69

$14.33

+27% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Minneapolis, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Minneapolis, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / MN)

5.6%

6.875%

+1.3 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

9.85%

+7.3 pp in MN

Mesa vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Minneapolis?: Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Minneapolis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Minneapolis?: Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).