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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or is it cheaper to live in Salinas?
- Mesa is 25.6% less expensive than Salinas.

Which city has more affordable housing, Mesa or Salinas?
- Mesa housing costs are 43.7% less expensive than Salinas housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Salinas or is Health Care more affordable in Mesa.
- Health related expenses are 35.6% less in Mesa.
 Salinas, CAMesa, AZUnited States
 Overall  Unlock113.0100
 Food & Groceries104.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.5100
 Housing215.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$425,900$338,100
 Utilities92  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock114.0100
 Miscellaneous112.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Salinas    15 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

Sacred Heart School is a fine Catholic school in the heart of Salinas, Ca. Victoria Torcolini was principal of this PK-8 school from 2006-2009. Under her leadership, SHS  More

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Over 13 years ago

I Was born and raise in salinas. In 2006 my family moved to the central valley. I moved back to salinas in 2011. I moved back Because I got a better job in Carmel. I  More

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Salinas, California has some of the best weather in Central California. I love looking out at the mountain ranges that line the Salinas River Valley. It's a shame that  More

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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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