Cost of Living in Mesa, AZ
Mesa is about 17% more expensive than the national average.
What Things Cost
Compared to the US average (100)
Census ACS 2024
Census ACS 2024
BEA RPP 2023
BEA RPP 2023
Mesa at a Glance
On the median income of $85,580, state income tax is roughly $2,140/year.
Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.
Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona and the largest suburb of Phoenix, with a population exceeding 500,000. The cost of living is right at the national average. The city has invested in its downtown and the Mesa Arts Center. Arizona's flat 2.5% income tax applies. For families seeking Phoenix metro amenities at a slightly lower price than Scottsdale or central Phoenix, Mesa delivers.
How People Get Around
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Who Lives Here
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Why People Move to Mesa
The 2.5% flat income tax is one of the lowest in the nation. Banner Health's campus provides major healthcare employment. The Mesa Arts Center is a genuine cultural asset. Spring training baseball (Cubs at Sloan Park) draws fans. Usery Mountain Regional Park provides desert hiking. The light rail connects downtown Mesa to Phoenix and Tempe.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Mesa is being revitalized around the arts center and light rail. East Mesa has the Superstition Mountains backdrop. Eastmark is a newer master-planned community. Red Mountain is family-oriented. For affordable options, West Mesa near the border with Tempe offers light rail access at lower prices.
Things to Consider
Summer heat is extreme (110°F+). The city sprawls enormously. Mesa has a significant LDS (Mormon) population that influences local culture. The downtown revitalization is ongoing but not yet matching Tempe or Scottsdale. Water scarcity is a long-term regional concern.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesa
Yes. Mesa's median home of $440,800 is well below Scottsdale's $856,700+. Both share the 2.5% income tax and similar weather.
Same as Phoenix: 110°F+ in summer. Mesa sits in the Valley of the Sun at 1,200 feet elevation. Summer is brutal. October through April is spectacular.
Both. Mesa has its own downtown, arts center, and 500,000 people, making it larger than many standalone cities. But it functions as part of the Phoenix metro and most residents consider it a Phoenix suburb.