Costa Mesa vs Miami Gardens: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Costa Mesa, CA and Miami Gardens, FL, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricCosta Mesa, CAMiami Gardens, FL
Population111,490111,618
Median household income$104,981$56,071
Median home value$959,800$299,700
Median rent (/mo)$2,268$1,583

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Costa Mesa, CA and Miami Gardens, FL comes down to what you value most. Miami Gardens has the lower median home value, and Miami Gardens has the lower median rent.

Costa Mesa 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 Miami Gardens?
By median home value, Miami Gardens is the cheaper of the two ($299,700 vs $959,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Costa Mesa or Miami Gardens?
Median household income is $104,981 in Costa Mesa versus $56,071 in Miami Gardens, per the US Census Bureau.

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