Costa Mesa, CA vs Irvine, CA

Costa Mesa is moderately more affordable than Irvine, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Costa Mesa scores 199 compared to 219 for Irvine, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Irvine can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Costa Mesa is $2,395/month compared to $2,893/month in Irvine — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Costa Mesa is more affordable at $1,054,700 median vs $1,115,400.

Median household income in Costa Mesa is $110,073 compared to $129,647 in Irvine (-15.1%). 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 Costa Mesa spend roughly 26.1% of their income on rent, less than the 26.8% in Irvine.