Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Rochester?

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

Mesa vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 10% higher in Rochester, 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

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,209

$1,080

+11% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,288

$1,106

+14% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,458

$1,243

+15% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,646

+10% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$364,300

$287,500

+21% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$78,779

$87,767

+11% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$60,620

+18% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

36.4 yr

+0.8 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

64.4%

65.4%

+1.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

50.1%

+18.6 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

25.0 min

17.2 min

+7.8 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

486.2

158.9

+67% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

1,488

1,379

+7% 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

75.1°F

45.4°F

+29.7°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

33.0 in

+25.0 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.95/gal

+22% in Mesa, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

16.9

+11% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.44

$14.95

+33% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% 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 Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Rochester?: Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Rochester 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).