Huntington Beach, CA vs Mission Viejo, CA

Huntington Beach, CA and Mission Viejo, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.2% difference in their overall index. Huntington Beach scores 200 while Mission Viejo scores 200 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Huntington Beach is $2,424/month compared to $2,713/month in Mission Viejo — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Huntington Beach has cheaper rent, Mission Viejo actually has lower median home values ($946,300 vs $1,047,300).

Median household income in Huntington Beach is $119,885 compared to $136,071 in Mission Viejo (-11.9%). While Mission Viejo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Huntington Beach spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, more than the 23.9% in Mission Viejo.

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