Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Wilmington?

Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Mesa vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 30% higher in Mesa, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,209

$1,103

+9% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,288

$1,024

+20% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,458

$1,213

+17% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,394

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$364,300

$224,500

+38% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$78,779

$55,269

+30% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$54,310

+6% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

37.0 yr

+0.2 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

64.4%

46.0%

+18.4 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

33.1%

+1.6 pp in Wilmington, DE

Avg Commute

25.0 min

23.0 min

+2.0 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

486.2

1,138.2

+134% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,488

3,182.4

+114% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+20.2°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

43.1 in

+35.0 in in Wilmington, DE

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

19.4

+27% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.44

$22.51

+0% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

5.6%

None

+5.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

6.60%

+4.1 pp in DE

Mesa vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Wilmington?: Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).