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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica or is it cheaper to live in Mesa?
- Santa Monica is 43.1% more expensive than Mesa.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Monica or Mesa?
- Santa Monica housing costs are 412.8% more expensive than Mesa housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Mesa or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica.
- Health related expenses are 2.5% less in Santa Monica.
 Mesa, AZSanta Monica, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries97.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing121.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,656,900$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock154.8100
 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 Santa Monica    24 Reviews

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I  More

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I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to  More

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I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not  More

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