Costa Mesa, CA vs Pacifica, CA

Costa Mesa is moderately more affordable than Pacifica, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Costa Mesa scores 199 compared to 234 for Pacifica, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Pacifica 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 $3,080/month in Pacifica — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Costa Mesa is more affordable at $1,054,700 median vs $1,211,700.

Median household income in Costa Mesa is $110,073 compared to $156,819 in Pacifica (-29.8%). While Pacifica 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, more than the 23.6% in Pacifica.