Living Cost Compare
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 35% higher in Seattle, WA. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,209
$1,638
+35% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,288
$1,858
+44% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,458
$2,359
+62% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$2,918
+60% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$364,300
$912,100
+150% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$78,779
$121,984
+55% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$72,610
+41% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
35.5 yr
+1.7 yr in Mesa, AZ
Homeownership
64.4%
44.2%
+20.2 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.5%
67.5%
+36.0 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
26.6 min
+1.6 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.8
787.3
+62% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,487.8
5,107.9
+243% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+21.6°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
37.7 in
+29.7 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$5.77/gal
+4% in Seattle, WA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.75
+38% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
14.4
+8% in Mesa, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.69
$17.32
+12% 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 / WA)
5.6%
6.5%
+0.9 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
None
+2.5 pp in AZ

Mesa vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Seattle?
Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Seattle?
Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).