Irvine, CA vs San Francisco, CA

Irvine, CA and San Francisco, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.7% difference in their overall index. Irvine scores 219 while San Francisco scores 228 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 Irvine is $2,893/month compared to $2,419/month in San Francisco — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while San Francisco has cheaper rent, Irvine actually has lower median home values ($1,115,400 vs $1,380,500).

Median household income in Irvine is $129,647 compared to $141,446 in San Francisco (-8.3%). While San Francisco is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Irvine spend roughly 26.8% of their income on rent, more than the 20.5% in San Francisco.

Climate-wise, Irvine is notably warmer with an average of 64.9°F compared to 57.7°F in San Francisco. San Francisco receives more rainfall at 22.9" per year compared to 11.2" in Irvine.