Costa Mesa vs Murrieta: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Costa Mesa, CA and Murrieta, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 111,490 | 111,899 |
| Median household income | $104,981 | $106,925 |
| Median home value | $959,800 | $567,700 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,268 | $2,150 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
Ad slot:
compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Costa Mesa, CA and Murrieta, CA comes down to what you value most. Murrieta has the lower median home value, and Murrieta has the lower median rent.
Murrieta has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Costa Mesa or Murrieta?
- By median home value, Murrieta is the cheaper of the two ($567,700 vs $959,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Costa Mesa or Murrieta?
- Median household income is $104,981 in Costa Mesa versus $106,925 in Murrieta, per the US Census Bureau.