Huntington Beach, CA vs Newport Beach, CA

The cost of living difference between Huntington Beach, CA and Newport Beach, CA is dramatic. Huntington Beach is 33.4% cheaper than Newport Beach, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Huntington Beach has a cost index of 200 while Newport Beach sits at 300, 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 Huntington Beach is $2,424/month compared to $3,146/month in Newport Beach — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Huntington Beach is more affordable at $1,047,300 median vs $2,000,001.

Median household income in Huntington Beach is $119,885 compared to $158,461 in Newport Beach (-24.3%). The higher salaries in Newport Beach 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, more than the 23.8% in Newport Beach.

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