Berkeley, CA vs Irvine, CA

Berkeley, CA and Irvine, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Berkeley scores 216 while Irvine scores 219 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Berkeley is $2,127/month compared to $2,893/month in Irvine — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Berkeley has cheaper rent, Irvine actually has lower median home values ($1,115,400 vs $1,351,100).

Median household income in Berkeley is $108,558 compared to $129,647 in Irvine (-16.3%). While Irvine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Berkeley spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, less than the 26.8% in Irvine.