Fairfield, CA vs Irvine, CA

The cost of living difference between Fairfield, CA and Irvine, CA is dramatic. Fairfield is 30.1% cheaper than Irvine, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fairfield has a cost index of 153 while Irvine sits at 219, 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.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairfield is $2,191/month compared to $2,893/month in Irvine — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairfield is more affordable at $592,500 median vs $1,115,400.

Median household income in Fairfield is $102,321 compared to $129,647 in Irvine (-21.1%). The higher salaries in Irvine partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfield spend roughly 25.7% of their income on rent, less than the 26.8% in Irvine.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (62.1°F vs 64.9°F). Fairfield receives more rainfall at 24.8" per year compared to 11.2" in Irvine.