Cost of living in Irvine: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Irvine is 13.6% higher than the US average. For the Los Angeles, CA metro area, the BEA regional price parity (RPP) was 113.6 in 2024, compared with 100 for the US, while housing stood at 170.4.
- Level of prices
- 113.6US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level, housing
- 170.4. Housing rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Irvine
A regional price parity measures a place's cost for the same set of goods and services against the US average, and the US reading is 100. Irvine is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area, and BEA prices the whole metro area together. Housing rents are furthest from the US average, reaching 170.4, or 70.4% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Los Angeles, CA metro | California | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 113.6 | 110.7 | +13.6% |
| Goods | 106.6 | 106.1 | +6.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 170.4 | 154.3 | +70.4% |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 158.9 | +58.6% |
| Other services | 104.4 | 102.6 | +4.4% |
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data: regional price parities for 2024, by metro area and state. BEA price parity data
Rental prices in Irvine
According to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), the typical asking rent for homes listed now in Irvine is $3,604 monthly, up +1.6% year over year. The US figure is $1,932. Census reports median gross rent of $3,091, which includes all renting households rather than only new leases. Annual asking rent accounts for 30% of median household income.
| Rent | Irvine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $3,604 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.6% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $3,091 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for a year, as a share of median income | 30% | 28% |
Sources: Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, estimates covering one year; Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Irvine home prices
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) puts the typical Irvine home at $1,481,490 for September 2026, tracking values for a home sitting in the middle of the market. Over a year, the change comes to −1.9%, against $366,157 for the US. A home costs 10.2 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 years for the US.
| Home prices | Irvine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $1,481,490 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −1.9% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +104.1% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 10.2 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 34.3 | 15.8 |
Price history from 2000, the forecast, days on market: Irvine housing market.
Salary you need to live in Irvine
Where you live and what you earn: two questions that give the salary in Irvine matching what your pay buys now.
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- Salary
The method, plus every city side by side: city cost of living comparison.
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Comparing the cost of living in Irvine with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Rent, typical | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine | 113.6 | 170.4 | $3,604 | $1,481,490 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
| San Jose | 110.4 | 211.9 | $3,582 | $1,353,869 |
| San Francisco | 115.6 | 194.7 | $4,784 | $1,441,021 |
| Fresno | 102.2 | 95.7 | $1,945 | $384,885 |
| Sacramento | 106.7 | 130.2 | $2,045 | $470,552 |
| Long Beach | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,412 | $852,391 |
| Oakland | 115.6 | 194.7 | $2,758 | $710,647 |
Price levels: BEA regional price parities for 2024. The US is 100. Rent comes from Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
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