Living Cost Compare
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 11% higher in Portland, OR. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,209
$1,294
+7% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,288
$1,440
+12% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,458
$1,741
+19% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$2,053
+13% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$364,300
$557,600
+53% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$78,779
$88,792
+13% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$60,690
+18% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
38.6 yr
+1.4 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
64.4%
52.8%
+11.6 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.5%
53.5%
+22.0 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
25.0 min
24.6 min
+0.4 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.8
731.7
+51% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
1,487.8
5,605.5
+277% in Portland, OR

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
54.5°F
+20.6°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
42.9 in
+34.8 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$5.57/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.80
+40% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
14.9
+4% in Mesa, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.69
$17.98
+9% in Mesa, AZ

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 (AZ / OR)
5.6%
None
+5.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
9.90%
+7.4 pp in OR

Mesa vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Portland?
Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Portland?
Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).