Mesa vs New Bedford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Mesa
New Bedford
💡 The Verdict
Mesa is 22% cheaper than New Bedford overall. A $75,000 salary in Mesa is equivalent to $96,212 in New Bedford.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Mesa (left) vs New Bedford (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Mesa versus New Bedford. Differences shown from Mesa perspective.
| Item | Mesa | New Bedford | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $960/mo | $1,520/mo | $-560.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,350/mo | $2,240/mo | $-890.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,740/mo | $2,800/mo | $-1060.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.62 | $3.68 | $-1.06 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.11 | $5.00 | $-0.89 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.89 | $3.95 | $-1.06 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.46 | $7.05 | $-1.59 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.47 | $4.01 | $-0.54 |
| Restaurant Meal | $15.49 | $19.11 | $-3.62 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Mesa has the same purchasing power as $96,212 in New Bedford.
Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $58,465 in Mesa.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1875 difference is driven by Massachusetts having a higher state income tax rate. Arizona details → · Massachusetts details →
Reading These Numbers: Mesa (99) vs New Bedford (127)
Mesa at 99 is 1% below the US average, while New Bedford at 127 is 27% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Mesa, the composite index of 99 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 98, followed by groceries (99), utilities (96), transportation (103), and healthcare (95). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,350/mo in Mesa and $2,240/mo in New Bedford, the annual rent difference is approximately $10,680.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $53,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $193,000.0 difference in median home prices between Mesa and New Bedford 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: Mesa vs New Bedford
Choosing between Mesa and New Bedford 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.
Long-term affordability in Mesa versus New Bedford depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.