Irvine vs Orlando: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Irvine, CA and Orlando, FL, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricIrvine, CAOrlando, FL
Population304,527307,738
Median household income$122,948$66,292
Median home value$1,025,700$332,700
Median rent (/mo)$2,749$1,509

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

Comparing Irvine, CA and Orlando, FL comes down to what you value most. Orlando has the lower median home value, and Orlando has the lower median rent.

Irvine 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 Irvine or Orlando?
By median home value, Orlando is the cheaper of the two ($332,700 vs $1,025,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Irvine or Orlando?
Median household income is $122,948 in Irvine versus $66,292 in Orlando, per the US Census Bureau.

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