Mesa, AZ at a glance
Median household income
$82,752$6,896 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Mesa, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Mesa, AZ? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,457 | $17,484 | $58,280 | 21.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,583 | $18,996 | $63,320 | 23% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,839 | $22,068 | $73,560 | 26.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,452 | $29,424 | $98,080 | 35.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,720 | $32,640 | $108,800 | 39.4% |
What a typical income covers in Mesa, AZ
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $82,752 a year ($6,896 a month before tax).
What $82,752 leaves after Arizona taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Arizona tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Arizona
Living in Mesa, AZ: common questions
What is the median household income in Mesa, AZ?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Mesa, AZ is $82,752 per year (approximately $6,896 per month).
What is the average rent in Mesa, AZ?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,457 for a studio, $1,583 for one bedroom, $1,839 for two, $2,452 for three and $2,720 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Mesa, AZ expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.3% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 103.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Mesa, AZ?
To keep a $1,839 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $73,560 a year, or $6,130 a month. That is 89% of what the typical household in Mesa, AZ earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Mesa, AZ?
On the local median income of $82,752 ($6,896 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,448 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,069 for everything else and $1,379 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,839 takes 53% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Mesa, AZ?
Homes in Arizona paid 15.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $137. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.