Cost of living in Mesa: rent, home prices and salary needed
In 2024, the RPP from BEA for the Phoenix, AZ metro area is 103.3, with the US at 100 and housing alone at 121.2. That puts the cost of living in Mesa 3.3% above the US average.
- Level of prices
- 103.3US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- For rents, 121.2, with US = 100.
Cost of living index for Mesa
A regional price parity compares one place's costs for a basket of goods and services with the US average. The US is set at 100. Mesa is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area. BEA calculates prices for that entire area as one. Housing (rents) differs most from the US average, with an index of 121.2, or 21.2% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Phoenix, AZ metro | Arizona | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 100.7 | +3.3% |
| Goods | 95.0 | 95.4 | −5.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 121.2 | 106.8 | +21.2% |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 92.3 | −6.7% |
| Other services | 104.0 | 102.8 | +4.0% |
Source: the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. regional price parities for metro areas and states, 2024. BEA regional price parities
Rental costs in Mesa
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) puts the typical asking rent in Mesa at $1,532 each month for homes listed now, which is −0.2% on a year. In the US, this figure stands at $1,932. Census reports median gross rent of $1,708, covering all renting households rather than just new leases. Asking rent for one year equals 21% of median household income.
| Rent | Mesa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,532 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | −0.2% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,708 | $1,487 |
| One year of asking rent measured against median income | 21% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
Mesa home prices
In September 2026, the Zillow Home Value Index, or ZHVI, valued a typical Mesa home at $428,871. This reflects the value of a home in the middle of the market. The annual change was −0.7%, compared with a US value of $366,157. The home price equals 5.0 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 years for the US.
| Home prices | Mesa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $428,871 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −0.7% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +90.8% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 23.3 | 15.8 |
See the Mesa housing market page for the price chart since 2000, along with the forecast, plus days on market.
What salary you need to live in Mesa
Your salary in Mesa, the one that buys what your pay buys now, comes from two questions: what you earn, and where you live.
- Moving away from
- Salary
See the method and compare every city side by side through cost of living comparisons by city.
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Mesa cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | The typical rent | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,532 | $428,871 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Tucson | 96.9 | 91.8 | $1,428 | $318,760 |
| Flagstaff | 100.3 | 109.0 | $2,128 | $650,175 |
| Sedona | 98.3 | 98.8 | $2,612 | $891,380 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. Rent comes from Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
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