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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Raleigh, NC is 0.9% more expensive than Mesa, AZ without rent, and 4.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Raleigh, NC is 18.6% more expensive than Mesa, AZ without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$19.92 $19.92
-0.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$74.2 $74.2
-0.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$11.77 $11.77
-14.10%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$5.95 $5.95
-9.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.72 $2.72
-13.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.13 $2.13
-3.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 $5.74
$5.94 $5.94
-3.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 $6.13
$7.08 $7.08
-13.42%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.84 $0.84
1.19%
White Bread (500g)
$4.01 $4.01
$4.25 $4.25
-5.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$5.33 $5.33
-40.34%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$4.82 $4.82
-1.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.63 $13.63
$11.95 $11.95
14.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 $11.46
$11.77 $11.77
-2.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.81 $16.81
$15.22 $15.22
10.45%
Apples (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$4.88 $4.88
37.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.95 $1.95
-24.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.77 $5.77
$4.04 $4.04
42.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$5.2 $5.2
21.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.33 $3.33
10.21%
Onion (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$2.57 $2.57
63.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.95 $1.95
12.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.44 $2.44
-7.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 $7.42
$9.07 $9.07
-18.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$14.78 $14.78
-0.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.19 $2.19
-7.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.58 $3.58
-15.92%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.03 $2.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.36 $45.36
$44.12 $44.12
2.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.82 $3.82
-36.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.35 $1.35
28.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.73 $14.73
$35.46 $35.46
-58.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$0.92 $0.92
-13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$30.4K $30.4K
-2.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.7K $26.7K
-1.59%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$256 $256
-27.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$70.1 $70.1
-8.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$85 $85
-17.44%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.69 $40.69
$42.82 $42.82
-4.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.1 $34.1
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.2 $15.2
$11.9 $11.9
27.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,492 $1,492
$1,122 $1,122
33.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$15.7K $15.7K
56.57%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$51.2 $51.2
1.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.69 $48.69
$38.89 $38.89
25.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 $98.6
$92.1 $92.1
7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$120 $120
18.76%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 $1,828
$1,707 $1,707
7.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 $1,539
$1,336 $1,336
15.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,992 $2,992
$2,526 $2,526
18.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,400 $2,400
$2,320 $2,320
3.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,093 $3,093
$2,994 $2,994
3.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,505 $2,505
$3,480 $3,480
-28.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Raleigh, NC
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,392 $4,392
$4,146 $4,146
5.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.46
1.08%

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

Last update for Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mesa, AZ: October 28, 2025

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