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Channel Islands Beach, CA vs Fort Irwin, CA

203
Channel Islands Beach
California
VS
+82.6%
111
Fort Irwin
California

The cost of living difference between Channel Islands Beach, CA and Fort Irwin, CA is dramatic. Fort Irwin is 82.6% cheaper than Channel Islands Beach, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Channel Islands Beach has a cost index of 203 while Fort Irwin sits at 111, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

Renters will find that Channel Islands Beach has a median rent of $2,467/month while Fort Irwin comes in at $1,601/month, a 54% difference.

Median household income in Channel Islands Beach is $103,219 compared to $66,964 in Fort Irwin (+54.1%). The higher salaries in Channel Islands Beach partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Channel Islands Beach spend roughly 28.7% of their income on rent, less than the 28.7% in Fort Irwin.

Income & Cost

Cost of Living Index
Channel Islands Beach
203
Fort Irwin
111
45% cheaper
Median Household Income
Channel Islands Beach
$103,219
35% higher
Fort Irwin
$66,964

Housing

Median Rent
Channel Islands Beach
$2,467
Fort Irwin
$1,601
35% cheaper
Median Home Value
Channel Islands Beach
$1,077,600
Fort Irwin
Population
Channel Islands Beach
2,936
Fort Irwin
8,791

Salary Equivalency Calculator

What does your salary in one city buy you in the other?

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Rent by Bedroom Size

HUD Fair Market Rent (FY 2026) — metro area average

Studio
Channel Islands Beach $2,042
Fort Irwin $2,020
1% cheaper
1 Bed
Channel Islands Beach $2,301
Fort Irwin $2,148
7% cheaper
2 Bed
Channel Islands Beach $2,752
Fort Irwin $2,675
3% cheaper
3 Bed
Channel Islands Beach $3,726
Fort Irwin $3,520
6% cheaper
4 Bed
Channel Islands Beach $4,321
Fort Irwin $4,178
3% cheaper

Everyday Prices

BLS Average Prices by metro area

Gasoline (regular)
Channel Islands Beach $3.22
Fort Irwin $3.13
US $3.07
🥚
Eggs (grade A, large)
Channel Islands Beach $2.62
Fort Irwin $2.55
US $2.50
🥛
Milk (whole)
Channel Islands Beach $4.22
Fort Irwin $4.11
US $4.03
🍞
Bread (white)
Channel Islands Beach $1.94
Fort Irwin $1.89
US $1.85
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Chicken breast
Channel Islands Beach $4.35
Fort Irwin $4.22
US $4.14
Electricity
Channel Islands Beach $0.26
Fort Irwin $0.31
US $0.19