Irvine vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Irvine
Peoria
The Verdict
Peoria is 57.5% less expensive than Irvine overall. A household earning $75,000 in Irvine would need approximately $47,612 in Peoria to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Irvine has the same purchasing power as $47,612 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $118,142 in Irvine.
Living in Irvine vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Irvine's housing index of 294 is higher Peoria's 149, translating to median home prices of $1.1M vs $495,000. The $555,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,072 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,000/mo in Irvine compared to $1,725/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $1,275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Irvine and 98 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Irvine vs $466/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Irvine and 106 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Irvine vs $424 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 109 in Irvine and 86 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $108,038 in Irvine and $97,300 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,696 and $86,106 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,521/month to housing in Irvine vs $2,270/month in Peoria. In Irvine, median rent of $3,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 145 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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