What is the cost of living in Irvine, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Irvine has an overall cost of living index of 209, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Irvine has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Irvine ranks as #543 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Irvine ranks as the #91 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Irvine, check out:
Irvine Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Irvine. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Irvine is 119.
The Groceries index in Irvine is 120.
The Health index in Irvine is 409.
The Housing index in Irvine is 124.
The Transportation index in Irvine is 125.
The Utilities index in Irvine is 129.
| Living Expense | Irvine | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 209 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 119 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 409 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 129 | 121 | 100 |
Irvine Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Irvine Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Irvine, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Irvine is $1,557,981.
The Median Rent in Irvine is $2,997.
The Median Income in Irvine is $136,719.
The Home Value To Income in Irvine is 11.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Irvine is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Irvine | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,557,981 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,997 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $136,719 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Irvine, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Irvine Services costs vs. California
| Item | Irvine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Irvine Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Irvine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Irvine Health costs vs. California
| Item | Irvine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Irvine Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Irvine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Irvine Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Irvine | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Irvine SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Irvine
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Irvine. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Ana, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.8x Irvine.
Costa Mesa, CA has a cost of living index of 198, 0.9x Irvine.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 0.9x Irvine.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Irvine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | 0.8x |
| Costa Mesa, CA | 110,330 | 198 | 0.9x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 0.9x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 0.9x |
| Newport Beach, CA | 83,845 | 337 | 1.6x |
| Tustin, CA | 78,981 | 181 | 0.9x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 0.8x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 0.9x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 0.9x |
