Rents are 19% below what Mesa's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: July 20, 2026
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Who lives here
Mesa, AZ is majority owner-occupied, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mesa, AZ has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Mesa, AZ has shifted from $1,322 to $1,549, up 17.2% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $65,725 to $82,752 across the same window, up 25.9% versus 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Mesa, AZ adding about 14,012 residents over the five-year window, up 2.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 37.5% to 35.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 29.5% to 32.5% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mesa, AZ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Mesa on your salary?
At $1,549/mo, how Mesa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mesa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mesa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mesa
Last updated: July 20, 2026
The median rent in Mesa is $1,549/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,117/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,425/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,226/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,917/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($82,752/yr), Mesa ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mesa an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Mesa?
Which Mesa neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Mesa rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
What percentage of Mesa residents rent vs. own?
How does Mesa rent compare to the national average?
At $1,549/mo, rent takes ~22% of Mesa's median household income ($82,752/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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