Cost of Living in Costa Mesa, California
In Costa Mesa, the median household income is $111,505 and the median gross rent is $2,446/mo, with a median home value of $1,115,100. Source: Census Bureau ACS, 2020-2024 estimates.
- Median household income
- $111,505
- Median gross rent
- $2,446/mo
- Median home value
- $1,115,100
- Population
- 110,330
How Costa Mesa compares to the California average
| Measure | Costa Mesa, CA | California statewide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $111,505 | $99,122 | +12.5% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $2,446 | $2,036 | +20.1% |
| Median home value | $1,115,100 | $734,700 | +51.8% |
Statewide, California prices average 110.7 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (2024), where the U.S. average is 100.
Housing affordability in Costa Mesa
- Salary needed for median rent
- $97,840
- Rent burden at median income
- 26.3%
- Est. affordable home price
- $406,763
So that $2,446/mo is 30% of gross income
Share of the median household income spent on median rent (30%+ = cost-burdened)
At median income, 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI
The median home value in Costa Mesa is $1,115,100 — +174.1% above what the median household income supports under these assumptions.
Estimates from documented formulas — see methodology. Not financial advice.
Cost of living in other California cities
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.