Median rent is 23% lower in San Diego ($2,313/mo vs $2,997/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Diego, where the median home runs $906,700 versus $1,191,500. Households earn more in Irvine ($136,719 vs $108,077 a year).
City A
Irvine, CA
City B
San Diego, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Diego, CA to maintain your standard of living from Irvine, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Irvine
California
San Diego
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in San Diego — median rent of $2,313/mo versus $2,997/mo in Irvine, a 23% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Irvine: the median home is $1,191,500 versus $906,700 in San Diego — 24% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Irvine
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Diego
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for San Diego (avg AQI 59.0) but not yet for Irvine.
Pick Irvine if you prioritize higher median household income ($136,719/yr).
Pick San Diego if you prioritize cheaper rent ($2,313/mo median).
Is Irvine cheaper than San Diego?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Irvine vs San Diego?
Median rent is $2,997/mo in Irvine, CA and $2,313/mo in San Diego, CA. San Diego, CA has the lower rent by about 23%.
Which has higher salaries — Irvine or San Diego?
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine, CA and $108,077 in San Diego, CA. Irvine, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Irvine or San Diego?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in San Diego to match my Irvine income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
