Irvine vs Cincinnati: Cost of Living (2026)

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

MetricIrvine, CACincinnati, OH
Population304,527308,870
Median household income$122,948$49,191
Median home value$1,025,700$192,000
Median rent (/mo)$2,749$893

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

Comparing Irvine, CA and Cincinnati, OH comes down to what you value most. Cincinnati has the lower median home value, and Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?
By median home value, Cincinnati is the cheaper of the two ($192,000 vs $1,025,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Irvine or Cincinnati?
Median household income is $122,948 in Irvine versus $49,191 in Cincinnati, per the US Census Bureau.

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