City Comparison

Fishers vs Irvine

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

Irvine

California
178
Very Expensive
$1.1M
Median Home
$3,000/mo
Median Rent
$108,038
Median Income

The Verdict

40.4%

Living in Fishers costs 40.4% less than Irvine. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fishers, you would need $125,943 in Irvine.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
120
Fishers
294
Irvine
Groceries
99
Fishers
108
Irvine
Utilities
100
Fishers
115
Irvine
Transportation
102
Fishers
115
Irvine
Healthcare
99
Fishers
109
Irvine

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fishers has the same purchasing power as $125,943 in Irvine.

Conversely, $75,000 in Irvine equals $44,663 in Fishers.

Living in Fishers vs Irvine

Housing Costs

Fishers's housing index of 120 is lower Irvine's 294, translating to median home prices of $391,000 vs $1.1M. The $659,000 difference in home prices means roughly $42,840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Fishers compared to $3,000/mo in Irvine, a monthly difference of $1,525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fishers and 108 in Irvine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fishers vs $513/month in Irvine. Fishers offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Fishers and 115 in Irvine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Fishers vs $460 in Irvine. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fishers and 109 in Irvine. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $130,200 in Fishers and $108,038 in Irvine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $122,830 and $60,696 respectively. Fishers residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,038/month to housing in Fishers vs $2,521/month in Irvine. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In Irvine, median rent of $3,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 174 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fishers is 40.4% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $125,943 in Irvine, based on the cost of living difference.
Fishers's housing index is 120 with median homes at $391,000, while Irvine's is 294 with median homes at $1.1M.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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