Mesa vs Fresno: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Mesa, AZ and Fresno, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 503,390 | 541,528 |
| Median household income | $73,766 | $63,001 |
| Median home value | $327,700 | $321,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,352 | $1,227 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
Ad slot:
compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Mesa, AZ and Fresno, CA comes down to what you value most. Fresno has the lower median home value, and Fresno has the lower median rent.
Mesa has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Fresno?
- By median home value, Fresno is the cheaper of the two ($321,800 vs $327,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Mesa or Fresno?
- Median household income is $73,766 in Mesa versus $63,001 in Fresno, per the US Census Bureau.