Costa Mesa, CA vs San Gabriel, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. San Gabriel is 16.7% cheaper than Costa Mesa. With a cost index of 171 vs 199, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from San Gabriel to Costa Mesa should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Costa Mesa is $2,395/month compared to $1,874/month in San Gabriel — a 28% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: San Gabriel is more affordable at $899,000 median vs $1,054,700.

Median household income in Costa Mesa is $110,073 compared to $87,592 in San Gabriel (+25.7%). While Costa Mesa 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 25.7% in San Gabriel.