Mesa vs Roswell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Mesa
Roswell
💡 The Verdict
Roswell is 1% cheaper than Mesa overall. A $75,000 salary in Mesa is equivalent to $74,242 in Roswell.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Mesa (left) vs Roswell (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Mesa versus Roswell. Differences shown from Mesa perspective.
| Item | Mesa | Roswell | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $960/mo | $1,060/mo | $-100.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,350/mo | $1,500/mo | $-150.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,740/mo | $1,970/mo | $-230.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.62 | $3.04 | $-0.42 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.11 | $3.77 | +$0.34 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.89 | $2.97 | $-0.08 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.46 | $5.89 | $-0.43 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.47 | $3.10 | +$0.37 |
| Restaurant Meal | $15.49 | $13.69 | +$1.80 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Mesa has the same purchasing power as $74,242 in Roswell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $75,765 in Mesa.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $2250 difference is driven by Georgia having a higher state income tax rate. Arizona details → · Georgia details →
Reading These Numbers: Mesa (99) vs Roswell (98)
Mesa at 99 is 1% below the US average, while Roswell at 98 is 2% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
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 $1,500/mo in Roswell, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,800.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $9,000.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $5,000.0 difference in median home prices between Mesa and Roswell 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 Roswell
Choosing between Mesa and Roswell 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.
When weighing Mesa against Roswell, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.