Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Richmond?

Richmond, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Richmond.

Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Richmond?

Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Mesa vs Richmond Cost of Living 2026

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Richmond, VA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 20% higher in Mesa, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ

Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio

$1,209

$1,183

+2% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,288

$1,195

+7% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,458

$1,374

+6% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,447

+20% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$364,300

$328,100

+10% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$78,779

$62,671

+20% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$51,460

+0% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

34.5 yr

+2.7 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

64.4%

43.5%

+20.9 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

44.1%

+12.6 pp in Richmond, VA

Avg Commute

25.0 min

22.1 min

+2.9 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

486.2

349

+28% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

1,488

3,240.2

+118% in Richmond, VA

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

58.9°F

+16.2°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

43.6 in

+35.6 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

17.6

+16% in Richmond, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.44

$23.66

+5% in Richmond, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Richmond, VA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Mesa, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / VA)

5.6%

5.3%

+0.3 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

5.75%

+3.3 pp in VA

Mesa vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Richmond?: Richmond, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Richmond?: 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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Richmond?: Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).