CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Mesa, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Mesa is slightly cheaper than Aurora — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $78,100 in Mesa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing17.5%
Aurora
146.9
Mesa
121.2
🛒 Groceries5.9%
Aurora
101
Mesa
95
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Aurora
104.4
Mesa
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Aurora
94.5
Mesa
98.8
Utilities+6.1%
Aurora
87.9
Mesa
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Mesa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mesa, AZ
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Mesa

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9764. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Mesa, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Aurora has 17.5% lower housing costs compared to Mesa.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Mesa, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
518,012
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareRetailManufacturingAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Mesa, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.