Huntington Beach, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Huntington Beach, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Huntington Beach →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Huntington Beach's population is about 197,481. On income, the typical household clears $114,747 a year, running above the median household income across the cities we cover (+59%).
Expect a median home value of $976,800 in Huntington Beach, which runs above what we see across other cities (+199%). Median rent lands at $2,318/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
At roughly 8.5 times median income, Huntington Beach's home values rank among the more stretched we track — buying here takes a larger share of local pay. Huntington Beach's home prices climbed 3.33% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. Natural-hazard exposure in Huntington Beach is rated Very High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,318/mo in Huntington Beach would take 24.2% of your income.
$551/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($976,800) would take 54.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$2,537/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Huntington Beach
Median home value is $976,800 and median gross rent is $2,318/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 Huntington Beach's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Huntington Beach reported a violent crime rate of 182.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Huntington Beach
Planning a move to Huntington Beach? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Huntington Beach, CA?
- Cost of living in Huntington Beach centers on housing: median home value runs $976,800, median rent runs $2,318/month, and the typical household earns $114,747 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Huntington Beach?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $2,318/month in Huntington Beach, that implies an income of about $92,720 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Huntington Beach.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Huntington Beach?
- Buying at Huntington Beach's median home value of $976,800 takes about $223,487 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $92,720 a year to comfortably rent at the median $2,318/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Huntington Beach safe?
- Huntington Beach reported a violent crime rate of 182.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data. Compare that figure against other cities you're considering for context.
See the full salary breakdown for Huntington Beach →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Huntington Beach's.