Cost of Living in Irvine, California (2026)
COL Index
158
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$2,800
per month
Median HHI
$98K
per year
State Tax
9.3%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Irvine |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $2,200 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $2,800 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $3,800 |
| Median home price | $950K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 113 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $19 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $78 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $90 |
| Gas price/gal | $4.55 |
| Car insurance/moCompare rates → | $168 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $148 |
| Internet/mo | $70 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $98K |
| State income tax rate | 9.3% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 7.8% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 158 |
| Walk score / 100 | 42 |
Is Irvine affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,418/mo take-home
116% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$2,773/mo take-home
101% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,328/mo take-home
84% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,159/mo take-home
67% rent burden · Difficult
$80K
~$4,437/mo take-home
63% rent burden · Difficult
$100K
~$5,546/mo take-home
50% rent burden · Difficult
$120K
~$6,225/mo take-home
45% rent burden · Tight
$150K
~$7,781/mo take-home
36% rent burden · Tight
High cost of living cuts into your budget. A cash-back card helps recover it.
Earn 2–5% back on groceries, gas, and dining automatically.
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Irvine.
Compare Irvine with other cities
Irvine vs New YorkCompare →Irvine vs Los AngelesCompare →Irvine vs ChicagoCompare →Irvine vs HoustonCompare →Save your comparisonsCreate free account →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only