Median rent is 4% lower in Reno ($1,556/mo vs $1,620/mo). Buying is cheaper in Mesa, where the median home runs $408,000 versus $548,300. Households earn more in Mesa ($82,752 vs $80,760 a year).
City A
Mesa, AZ
City B
Reno, NV
How much would you need to earn in Reno, NV to maintain your standard of living from Mesa, AZ?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
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
Reno
Nevada
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 $1,556/mo in Reno. Home buyers face a steeper market in Reno: the median home is $548,300 versus $408,000 in Mesa — 26% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
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
Reno
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Mesa has cleaner air on average: 32.0 AQI (Good) compared to 54.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Mesa if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 32.0).
Is Mesa cheaper than Reno?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Mesa vs Reno?
Median rent is $1,620/mo in Mesa, AZ and $1,556/mo in Reno, NV. Reno, NV has the lower rent by about 4%.
Which has higher salaries — Mesa or Reno?
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa, AZ and $80,760 in Reno, NV. Mesa, AZ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Mesa, AZ has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 54.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Mesa or Reno?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Reno to match my Mesa income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
