Residential comparison · 13 facts
Costa Mesa, CA vs Newport Beach, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Costa Mesa needs about $92,500 in Newport Beach to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Newport Beach, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $77,500 in Costa Mesa.
A few differences
- Newport Beach is higher on median household income ($156,867 vs $111,505).
- Costa Mesa is lower on cost of living index (165 vs 226).
- Costa Mesa is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,492/mo vs $3,323/mo).
Costa Mesa vs Newport Beach · facet by facet
| Facet | Costa Mesa, CA | Newport Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,115,100 | $2,000,001 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,492/mo | $3,323/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 165 | 226 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $111,505 | $156,867 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Costa Mesa, CA · Newport Beach, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Costa Mesa cheaper than Newport Beach?
- Costa Mesa has the lower day-to-day cost index (165 vs 226 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Newport Beach equals $85,000 in Costa Mesa?
- A household earning $85,000 in Costa Mesa needs about $92,500 in Newport Beach to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Newport Beach lifestyle costs about $77,500 in Costa Mesa.