Living Cost Compare
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 13% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. 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
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,209
$1,496
+24% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,288
$1,357
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,458
$1,559
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,857
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$364,300
$366,300
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$78,779
$90,685
+15% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$49,430
+4% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
37.4 yr
+0.2 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
64.4%
64.9%
+0.5 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.5%
40.4%
+8.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.2 min
+1.8 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.8
96.7
+80% in Mesa, AZ
Property Crime
1,487.8
1,664.3
+12% in Virginia Beach, 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
59.9°F
+15.2°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
44.3 in
+36.3 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$4.30/gal
+23% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
17.1
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.69
$18.75
+5% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Mesa, AZ
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Mesa, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Mesa, AZ
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Mesa, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Mesa, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% 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 Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Virginia Beach?
Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Virginia Beach?
Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach 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).