Costa Mesa, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Costa Mesa, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Costa Mesa →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Costa Mesa, California is home to roughly 111,490 residents. The typical household here earns $104,981 a year — above the median we track across cities (+46%).
Anyone weighing a move to Costa Mesa should know the median home value is $959,800, above the multi-city median (+194%), and median rent runs $2,268 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
Buying a typical home in Costa Mesa would take about 9.1 years of median household income — a high multiple that points to real affordability pressure. Home prices near Costa Mesa have risen a steady 3.33% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Costa Mesa at Very High for overall natural-hazard risk, a factor that can push home insurance costs up.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,268/mo in Costa Mesa would take 25.9% of your income.
$357/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($959,800) would take 58.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$2,674/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Costa Mesa
Median home value is $959,800 and median gross rent is $2,268/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Orange rose 3.33% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $3,236/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Costa Mesa's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Costa Mesa reported a violent crime rate of 545.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Costa Mesa
Planning a move to Costa Mesa? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Costa Mesa, CA?
- Cost of living in Costa Mesa centers on housing: median home value runs $959,800, median rent runs $2,268/month, and the typical household earns $104,981 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Costa Mesa?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Costa Mesa, where median rent runs $2,268/month, you'd want to earn about $90,720 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Costa Mesa.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Costa Mesa?
- With a median home value of $959,800 and median rent of $2,268/month, renting comfortably in Costa Mesa takes about $90,720/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $219,597/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is Costa Mesa safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 545.1 per 100,000 residents in Costa Mesa.
See the full salary breakdown for Costa Mesa →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Costa Mesa's.