City Comparison

Gresham vs Irvine

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Irvine

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

The Verdict

28.1%

Gresham is 28.1% less expensive than Irvine overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gresham would need approximately $104,297 in Irvine to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
294
Irvine
Groceries
101
Gresham
108
Irvine
Utilities
96
Gresham
115
Irvine
Transportation
126
Gresham
115
Irvine
Healthcare
103
Gresham
109
Irvine

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $104,297 in Irvine.

Conversely, $75,000 in Irvine equals $53,933 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Irvine

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is lower Irvine's 294, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $1.1M. The $591,000 difference in home prices means roughly $38,412 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $3,000/mo in Irvine, a monthly difference of $1,550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 108 in Irvine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham vs $513/month in Irvine. Gresham offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Gresham and 115 in Irvine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham 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 103 in Gresham and 109 in Irvine. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $69,600 in Gresham and $108,038 in Irvine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $60,696 respectively. Irvine residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $2,521/month in Irvine. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 122 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gresham is 28.1% more affordable overall with an index of 128 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,297 in Irvine, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Irvine's is 294 with median homes at $1.1M.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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