Mesa, AZ vs Albany, NY Cost of Living (2026)
See what salary in Albany would match your current lifestyle in Mesa. This page is built for people moving from Mesa to Albany.
Compare Cities
Your current salary
Albany Equivalent Salary
Annual Salary Needed
$67,505.70
Current Salary
$66,000.00
Difference
$1,505.70
Percent Change
$2.28
📈 You would need 2.3% more to maintain your lifestyle
Housing
$823
Groceries
-$1,027
Transport
-$2,548
Healthcare
$4,833
Cost of Living Index Comparison (US Average = 100)
Mesa
105.2
Albany
107.6
Mesa Snapshot
Overall COL Index: 105.2
Housing Index: 112.3
Groceries: 102.8
Transportation: 108.8
Healthcare: 95.6
Median Household Income: $66,000
Albany Snapshot
Overall COL Index: 107.6
Housing Index: 113.7
Groceries: 101.2
Transportation: 104.6
Healthcare: 102.6
Median Household Income: $62,000
Moving from Mesa to Albany
If you earn and spend in Mesa today, this page shows what that budget looks like after a move to Albany. Mesa has an overall cost of living index of 105.2, while Albany comes in at 107.6.
Housing often drives the largest change in the move. Mesa has a housing index of 112.3, compared with 113.7 in Albany. Groceries, transportation, and healthcare can still change the salary you need even when the overall index looks close.
Use the calculator above to test different starting salaries in Mesa and see what income you would need after moving to Albany.
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Cost of living data last updated: April 2026