Living Cost Compare
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 44% higher in San Francisco, CA. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,209
$1,560
+29% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,288
$2,425
+88% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,458
$2,982
+105% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$3,269
+80% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$364,300
$1,380,500
+279% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$78,779
$141,446
+80% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$74,260
+45% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
39.7 yr
+2.5 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
64.4%
38.5%
+25.9 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.5%
60.1%
+28.6 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
31.2 min
+6.2 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.8
596.5
+23% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
1,487.8
3,962.2
+166% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+17.8°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
23.6 in
+15.6 in in San Francisco, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$6.05/gal
+9% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in San Francisco, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
33.4
+114% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.69
$20.72
+5% in San Francisco, CA

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 / CA)
5.6%
7.25%
+1.7 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
13.30%
+10.8 pp in CA

Mesa vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or San Francisco?
Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or San Francisco?
Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).