Clarksville vs Mesa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Clarksville
Mesa
💡 The Verdict
Clarksville is 12% cheaper than Mesa overall. A $75,000 salary in Clarksville is equivalent to $85,345 in Mesa.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Clarksville (left) vs Mesa (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Clarksville versus Mesa. Differences shown from Clarksville perspective.
| Item | Clarksville | Mesa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $990/mo | $960/mo | +$30.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,410/mo | $1,350/mo | +$60.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,860/mo | $1,740/mo | +$120.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.36 | $2.62 | $-0.26 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.43 | $4.11 | $-0.68 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.06 | $2.89 | +$0.17 |
| Coffee (latte) | $4.75 | $5.46 | $-0.71 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.16 | $3.47 | $-0.31 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.67 | $15.49 | $-0.82 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Clarksville has the same purchasing power as $85,345 in Mesa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Mesa equals $65,909 in Clarksville.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1876 difference is driven by Arizona having a higher state income tax rate. Tennessee details → · Arizona details →
Reading These Numbers: Clarksville (87) vs Mesa (99)
Clarksville at 87 is 13% below the US average, while Mesa at 99 is 1% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Clarksville, the composite index of 87 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 100, followed by groceries (84), utilities (88), transportation (95), and healthcare (92). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $1,410/mo in Clarksville and $1,350/mo in Mesa, the annual rent difference is approximately $720.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $3,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $26,000.0 difference in median home prices between Clarksville and Mesa translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Clarksville vs Mesa
Choosing between Clarksville and Mesa involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Clarksville and Mesa reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.