2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Mesa, AZ vs Monterey, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Monterey or is it cheaper to live in Mesa?
- Monterey is 34.4% more expensive than Mesa.

Which city has more affordable housing, Monterey or Mesa?
- Monterey housing costs are 174.8% more expensive than Mesa housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Mesa or is Health Care more affordable in Monterey.
- Health related expenses are 55.4% more in Monterey.
 Mesa, AZMonterey, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries97.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing121.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,022,100$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.1100
 Miscellaneous105.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Mesa    61 Reviews

Mesa is a really good city despite some trouble with Superstition Springs and the failure that is Fiesta Mall, there is nice areas throughout and some areas that need to  More

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Over 2 years ago

As someone who was born in Mesa and has lived here in the 85210 in Dobson Ranch for the last 13 years after moving out from Chandler. I can tell you that most of the  More

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I’m a native to Arizona and growing up here has taught me that people just don’t care, and the Mormon community is huge! It’s normal in the state of AZ for kids to start  More

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Reviews for Monterey    21 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I  More

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I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service  More

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My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to  More

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