Huntington Beach, CA vs Irvine, CA

Huntington Beach is moderately more affordable than Irvine, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Huntington Beach scores 200 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 Huntington Beach is $2,424/month compared to $2,893/month in Irvine — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Huntington Beach is more affordable at $1,047,300 median vs $1,115,400.

Median household income in Huntington Beach is $119,885 compared to $129,647 in Irvine (-7.5%). The higher salaries in Irvine partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Huntington Beach spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, less than the 26.8% in Irvine.

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