Kept

City vs city

San Diego vs Irvine

$100,000 in San Diego buys a lifestyle closer to $105,000 in Irvine, because Irvine's cost-of-living index is 154 versus 146.

San Diego

Climate premium is real. Rents rival Los Angeles without the same density of ultra-high salaries.

COL index
146
Typical 1-bed
$2,450/mo
Comfortable salary
$124,000
$100k take-home
$73,957
Full San Diego 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 Los Angelesvs Irvine