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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Palm Desert or is it cheaper to live in Mesa?
- Palm Desert is 16.1% more expensive than Mesa.

Which city has more affordable housing, Palm Desert or Mesa?
- Palm Desert housing costs are 29.1% more expensive than Mesa housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Mesa or is Health Care more affordable in Palm Desert.
- Health related expenses are 5.6% less in Palm Desert.
 Mesa, AZPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock131.2100
 Food & Groceries97.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock87.3100
 Housing121.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$539,000$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock125.8100
 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 Palm Desert    14 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Palm Desert, CA is full of rude people. One woman in a long sleeved pink shirt is being extremely rude and mocking people for no reason at a neighborhood Walmart in Palm  More

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Palm Desert is clean, upscale and beautiful. The views of the Santa Rosa Mountains bright blue sky and green expanses of golf course fairways, swimming pools and  More

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I made the mistake of moving here after a short vacation to be closer to family. Biggest mistake of my life! This is not the place to live if health is important to you.  More

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