CostIndexUSA

Harrisburg, PA vs Mesa, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
AZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Harrisburg is slightly cheaper than Mesa — 4.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Harrisburg, you would need $83,700 in Mesa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+25.9%
Harrisburg
96.3
Mesa
121.2
🛒 Groceries5.7%
Harrisburg
100.7
Mesa
95
🚗 Transportation+6.4%
Harrisburg
102.6
Mesa
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
Harrisburg
92.8
Mesa
98.8
Utilities13.7%
Harrisburg
108.1
Mesa
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mesa, AZ
$83,700
$3,700 more needed in Mesa

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 98.7) = salary × 1.0466. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Mesa, AZ

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

Mesa has 25.9% higher housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

Income & Job Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Harrisburg, PA
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.