CostIndexUSA

Mesa, AZ vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Sarasota is slightly cheaper than Mesa — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mesa, you would need $79,300 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.6%
Mesa
121.2
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries+1.3%
Mesa
95
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation4.9%
Mesa
109.2
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare5.0%
Mesa
98.8
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities5.5%
Mesa
93.3
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$79,300
$700 less needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9913. 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×

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

Sarasota has 5.6% higher housing costs compared to Mesa.

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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.