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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,850 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $2,772 in Mesa, AZ, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,128 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $4,093 in Mesa, AZ, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,406 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $5,414 in Mesa, AZ, rent included.

Raleigh, NC costs about 3% more than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Raleigh, NC and Mesa, AZ sit above the global median – Raleigh, NC by 112%, Mesa, AZ by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$19.94 $19.94

-2.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 $75.5

$75.0 $75.0

0.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 $10.15

$11.78 $11.78

-13.84%

Cappuccino

$5.31 $5.31

$5.98 $5.98

-11.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.76 $2.76

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.23 $2.23

-11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.53 $5.53

$6.15 $6.15

-10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 $5.83

$6.88 $6.88

-15.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.12 $4.12

-0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$5.06 $5.06

-37.55%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.58 $4.58

2.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.60 $13.60

$11.98 $11.98

13.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$11.91 $11.91

-3.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$15.14 $15.14

8.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$4.77 $4.77

41.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.97 $1.97

-25.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.88 $3.88

43.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.01 $5.01

21.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.21 $3.21

14.02%

Onion (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.66 $2.66

53.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.94 $1.94

15.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.48 $2.48

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.68 $7.68

$9.13 $9.13

-15.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$13.38 $13.38

10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.09 $2.09

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.45 $3.45

-11.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.97 $1.97

4.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.71 $45.71

$45.15 $45.15

1.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.95 $3.95

-34.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.40 $1.40

20.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.13 $15.13

$36.66 $36.66

-58.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.94 $0.94

-14.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K $29.5K

$31.0K $31.0K

-4.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$187 $187

$257 $257

-27.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$70.5 $70.5

-9.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$85.6 $85.6

-15.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.04 $40.04

$41.77 $41.77

-4.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.03 $34.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.86 $14.86

$11.88 $11.88

25.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,492 $1,492

$1,137 $1,137

31.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$15.8K $15.8K

51.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 $52.3

$51.0 $51.0

2.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.35 $48.35

$38.94 $38.94

24.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$94.0 $94.0

7.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$117 $117

17.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 $1,792

$1,719 $1,719

4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$1,327 $1,327

18.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,003 $3,003

$2,515 $2,515

19.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,419 $2,419

$2,314 $2,314

4.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,872 $3,872

$2,980 $2,980

29.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,199 $2,199

$3,464 $3,464

-36.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,384 $4,384

$4,051 $4,051

8.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.46

1.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Raleigh, NC: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mesa, AZ: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,792 in Raleigh, NC versus $1,719 in Mesa, AZ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Raleigh, NC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Raleigh, NC versus $75.0 in Mesa, AZ. Groceries tell a different story – $425 in Raleigh, NC vs $402 in Mesa, AZ – so Mesa, AZ wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Raleigh, NC vs Mesa, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Raleigh, NC costs about 3% more than Mesa, AZ, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,275 per month in Raleigh, NC and $4,157 in Mesa, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mesa, AZ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Raleigh, NC and $75.0 in Mesa, AZ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,850 in Raleigh, NC and $2,772 in Mesa, AZ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,850 in Raleigh, NC and $2,772 in Mesa, AZ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Mesa, AZ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mesa, AZ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Raleigh, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.