Median rent is 2% lower in Phoenix ($1,582/mo vs $1,620/mo). Buying is cheaper in Mesa, where the median home runs $408,000 versus $420,700. Households earn more in Mesa ($82,752 vs $81,332 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (104.7).
City A
Mesa, AZ
City B
Phoenix, AZ
How much would you need to earn in Phoenix, AZ to maintain your standard of living from Mesa, AZ?
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Mesa
Arizona
Phoenix
Arizona
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,620/mo in Mesa and $1,582/mo in Phoenix. Median home values are within 3% of each other: $408,000 in Mesa and $420,700 in Phoenix.
Metric
Mesa
Phoenix
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Mesa
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Phoenix
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Phoenix has cleaner air on average: 28.0 AQI (Good) compared to 32.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Mesa is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 104.7 versus 104.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Mesa.
Median rent is $1,620/mo in Mesa, AZ and $1,582/mo in Phoenix, AZ. Phoenix, AZ has the lower rent by about 2%.
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa, AZ and $81,332 in Phoenix, AZ. Mesa, AZ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Phoenix, AZ has better air quality on average: 28.0 AQI versus 32.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Mesa, AZ is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
