Is Irvine cheaper than Rancho Santa Margarita?

Rancho Santa Margarita has the lower day-to-day cost index (162 vs 178 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.

What household income in Rancho Santa Margarita equals $85,000 in Irvine?

A household earning $85,000 in Irvine needs about $80,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Rancho Santa Margarita lifestyle costs about $90,000 in Irvine.

City data & comparisons

Residential comparison · 13 facts

Irvine, CA vs Rancho Santa Margarita, 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.

Personalize this comparison

A household earning $85,000 in Irvine needs about $80,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita to keep the same lifestyle.

Coming from Rancho Santa Margarita, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $90,000 in Irvine.

A few differences

Rancho Santa Margarita is higher on median household income ($152,560 vs $136,719).
Rancho Santa Margarita is lower on cost of living index (162 vs 178).
Rancho Santa Margarita is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,835/mo vs $3,154/mo).

Irvine vs Rancho Santa Margarita · facet by facet

Facet	Irvine, CA	Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Median home price	$1,191,500	$971,200
2-bedroom rent	$3,154/mo	$2,835/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	178	162
Groceries index	112	112
Utilities	$245/mo	$245/mo
Median household income	$136,719	$152,560
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: Irvine, CA · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Questions & answers

Is Irvine cheaper than Rancho Santa Margarita?: Rancho Santa Margarita has the lower day-to-day cost index (162 vs 178 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
What household income in Rancho Santa Margarita equals $85,000 in Irvine?: A household earning $85,000 in Irvine needs about $80,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Rancho Santa Margarita lifestyle costs about $90,000 in Irvine.