Kept

City vs city

Los Angeles vs Irvine

$100,000 in Los Angeles buys a lifestyle closer to $103,000 in Irvine, because Irvine's cost-of-living index is 154 versus 149.

Los Angeles

Large, spread-out, and car-dependent. Housing and insurance push costs well above the US average.

COL index
149
Typical 1-bed
$2,550/mo
Comfortable salary
$127,000
$100k take-home
$73,957
Full Los Angeles guide

Irvine

Master-planned Orange County city with strong schools and correspondingly high housing costs.

COL index
154
Typical 1-bed
$2,700/mo
Comfortable salary
$131,000
$100k take-home
$73,957
Full Irvine guide

More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs San Diegovs Irvine