Cost of Living Comparison Between Mesa, AZ and Raleigh, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Mesa, AZ and Raleigh, NC

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Mesa, AZ is 0.9% cheaper than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 4.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Mesa, AZ is 15.7% cheaper than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92 $19.92
$19.86 $19.86
0.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$74.2 $74.2
0.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 $11.77
$10.11 $10.11
16.42%
Cappuccino
$5.95 $5.95
$5.37 $5.37
10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.36 $2.36
15.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.05 $2.05
3.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$5.74 $5.74
3.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 $7.08
$6.13 $6.13
15.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$0.85 $0.85
-1.18%
White Bread (500g)
$4.25 $4.25
$4.01 $4.01
5.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$3.18 $3.18
67.61%
Eggs
$4.82 $4.82
$4.76 $4.76
1.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.95 $11.95
$13.63 $13.63
-12.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.77 $11.77
$11.46 $11.46
2.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 $15.22
$16.81 $16.81
-9.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.72 $6.72
-27.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.47 $1.47
32.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 $4.04
$5.77 $5.77
-29.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.2 $5.2
$6.31 $6.31
-17.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.67 $3.67
-9.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$4.21 $4.21
-38.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.2 $2.2
-11.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.26 $2.26
7.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$7.42 $7.42
22.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.78 $14.78
$14.77 $14.77
0.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.03 $2.03
7.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.01 $3.01
18.94%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.03 $2.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.12 $44.12
$45.36 $45.36
-2.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.44 $2.44
56.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.74 $1.74
-22.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.46 $35.46
$14.73 $14.73
140.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$0.8 $0.8
15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$29.8K $29.8K
2.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
1.62%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$256 $256
$185 $185
38.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$63.9 $63.9
9.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85 $85
$70.2 $70.2
21.13%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.82 $42.82
$40.69 $40.69
5.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.1 $34.1
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.9 $11.9
$15.2 $15.2
-21.71%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,122 $1,122
$1,492 $1,492
-24.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K $15.7K
$24.5K $24.5K
-36.13%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 $51.2
$51.8 $51.8
-1.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.89 $38.89
$48.69 $48.69
-20.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.1 $92.1
$98.6 $98.6
-6.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$142 $142
-15.80%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 $1,707
$1,828 $1,828
-6.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 $1,336
$1,539 $1,539
-13.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 $2,526
$2,992 $2,992
-15.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,320 $2,320
$2,400 $2,400
-3.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,994 $2,994
$3,093 $3,093
-3.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,480 $3,480
$2,505 $2,505
38.92%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Mesa, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,146 $4,146
$4,392 $4,392
-5.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
6.53
-1.07%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mesa, AZ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

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