CostIndexUSA

Mesa, AZ vs Racine, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Racine
96
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Racine is moderately cheaper than Mesa — 7.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mesa, you would need $74,300 in Racine. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing24.1%
Mesa
121.2
Racine
92
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Mesa
95
Racine
93.8
🚗 Transportation4.4%
Mesa
109.2
Racine
104.4
🏥 Healthcare4.5%
Mesa
98.8
Racine
94.4
Utilities3.5%
Mesa
93.3
Racine
90

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Mesa to see what you'd need to earn in Racine to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Racine, WI
$74,300
$5,700 less needed in Racine

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9293. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mesa, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Racine, WI

Median Home Price
$293,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
92
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Mesa has 24.1% lower housing costs compared to Racine.

Income & Job Market

Mesa, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
518,012
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareRetailManufacturingAerospace

Racine, WI

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
78,900
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Mesa, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Racine, WI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.