2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Jose, CA vs Irvine, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Irvine or is it cheaper to live in San Jose?
- Irvine is 28.6% less expensive than San Jose.

Which city has more affordable housing, Irvine or San Jose?
- Irvine housing costs are 17.5% less expensive than San Jose housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Jose or is Health Care more affordable in Irvine.
- Health related expenses are 13.3% less in Irvine.
 San Jose, CAIrvine, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries113.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing428.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,128,000$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.0100
 Miscellaneous155.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Jose    90 Reviews

I've lived in west San Jose/Cambrian, between Los Gatos and Almaden SJ since 1997. This side of town somehow avoided the erosion of the American dream. Houses are  More

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I lived in San Jose for 40 years. That’s during the most exciting time when the Silicon Valley was booming with real technology and San Jose was ranked as the safest big  More

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Over 4 years ago

I've lived in San Jose, CA for 25 years. This city is being over run with crime and gangs. The cost of living is very high. Granted, you are so close to mountains,  More

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Reviews for Irvine    42 Reviews

We've lived in Irvine since '87. We have raised two children within the ISUD. Both are grown up. Sure, there have been many changes since then.. the City has  More

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I've lived in Irvine for 2 years and in Orange County for 10 so I'm pretty familiar with the area by now and all it has to offer. Perhaps my review of this place has  More

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I wouldn't live elsewhere. I originally moved to Irvine in 2002 from the Midwest, not knowing what it even was. I left and moved around a great deal locally in OC,  More

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