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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or is it cheaper to live in San Mateo?
- Mesa is 54.8% less expensive than San Mateo.

Which city has more affordable housing, Mesa or San Mateo?
- Mesa housing costs are 77.4% less expensive than San Mateo housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Mateo or is Health Care more affordable in Mesa.
- Health related expenses are 21.2% less in Mesa.
 San Mateo, CAMesa, AZUnited States
 Overall  Unlock113.0100
 Food & Groceries116.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.5100
 Housing537.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$425,900$338,100
 Utilities92  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock114.0100
 Miscellaneous161.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Mateo    12 Reviews

I have lived in San Mateo since 2013. It has seen tremendous growth, lots of new restaurants which have become progressively more high-end though there is ample  More

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I'm a native of California. I have lived in the southern part of the state and the northern part of the state for most of my life. I have spent the last 29 years in  More

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Over 15 years ago

San Mateo has a diverse mix of people, a pleasant climate, a very pleasant downtown park with lots going on, and pretty much whatever you need handy. It's not far to  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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