Living Cost Compare
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 23% higher in Mesa, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,209
$1,126
+7% in Mesa, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,288
$1,189
+8% in Mesa, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,458
$1,394
+4% in Mesa, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,406
+23% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$364,300
$232,400
+36% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$78,779
$60,698
+23% in Mesa, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$54,310
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
35.1 yr
+2.1 yr in Mesa, AZ
Homeownership
64.4%
52.3%
+12.1 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.5%
34.6%
+3.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
32.0 min
+7.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.8
916.8
+89% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,487.8
4,614.3
+210% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+18.0°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
48.5 in
+40.5 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$4.30/gal
+23% in Mesa, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
20.9
+34% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.69
$16.67
+15% 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
$1.92
+9% in Mesa, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.90
+5% in Mesa, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.02
+5% in Mesa, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.68
+9% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / PA)
5.6%
6%
+0.4 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
3.07%
+0.6 pp in PA

Mesa vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Philadelphia?
Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 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).