CostIndexUSA

Mesa, AZ vs Plano, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
TX
Plano
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Mesa and Plano have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.7%
Mesa
121.2
Plano
117.9
🛒 Groceries+8.2%
Mesa
95
Plano
102.8
🚗 Transportation4.1%
Mesa
109.2
Plano
104.7
🏥 Healthcare4.1%
Mesa
98.8
Plano
94.7
Utilities2.8%
Mesa
93.3
Plano
90.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Plano, TX
$79,800
$200 less needed in Plano

Formula: salary × (103.1 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9981. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mesa, AZ

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

Plano, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Mesa has 2.7% lower housing costs compared to Plano.

Income & Job Market

Mesa, AZ

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

Plano, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
285,494
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareTelecommunicationsRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Mesa, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Plano, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.