City Comparison
Irvine vs Oxnard
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Irvine scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Irvine
Oxnard
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Oxnard is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Irvine.
Housing costs are a major driver: Irvine's average rent is
39% higher than Oxnard's.
| Metric | Irvine | Oxnard | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,066 | $2,198 | +39% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $180 | $130 | +38% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $4,066 | $3,098 | +31% |
| Cost Index | 168 | 132 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Irvine offers 26% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Oxnard delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Irvine is estimated at
$95,000 vs $55,000 in Oxnard.
| Metric | Irvine | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $95,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 48,810 idx | 49,242 idx |
| Household Income | $136,719 | $96,212 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.5°F of each other.
| Metric | Irvine | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 64.10°F | 60.60°F |
| Summer High | 79.70°F | 71.70°F |
| Winter Low | 49.20°F | 48.30°F |
| Rainfall | 19.70 in | 22.10 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 324 | 325 |
| Humidity | 60.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Irvine scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Irvine leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Irvine | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 25 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | 55.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Irvine is the larger city
— approximately 1.6x the population of Oxnard.
From a growth perspective, Irvine is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Irvine has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Irvine | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 318,693 | 199,197 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | — |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Irvine
Advantages
Consistently ranked as one of the safest big cities in America for consecutive years per FBI statistics and local safety reports.
Irvine Unified School District achieves exceptional performance metrics, with high school graduation rates exceeding 97%.
Home to more than 19,000 thriving businesses providing robust local employment and career mobility.
Extensive outdoor recreational infrastructure featuring over 16,000 acres of preserved open space and extensive bicycle trails.
High concentration of residents with higher education degrees, fostering a progressive, intellectually vibrant community.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living sits roughly 68% higher than the national average, heavily driven by housing expenses.
Median home purchase prices scale past $1.4 million, presenting a steep barrier to entry for prospective first-time buyers.
High reliance on automobile travel for daily errands despite solid local bicycle infrastructure.
Strict homeowner association (HOA) regulations and municipal codes govern property aesthetics and modifications.
Rental prices remain among the highest in Southern California, placing considerable pressure on non-homeowners.
Oxnard
Advantages
Mild Mediterranean climate with 325 sunny days annually.
Coastal location offering access to beaches and recreational activities.
Significant agricultural and manufacturing economic base.
More affordable housing compared to other major California coastal cities.
Diverse cultural landscape influenced by a large Hispanic and Latino population.
Drawbacks
Higher than national average crime rates, particularly for violent crime.
Cost of living is 32% higher than the U.S. national average, driven by housing costs.
Public transportation is limited, and car dependency is high.
Median home values are significantly above the national average.
Unemployment rate is higher than the national average of 4.198%.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Irvine
#275California, USA
61.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,066
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
168
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
324/yr
Avg Temp
64.10°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
88
Business
82
Oxnard
#598California, USA
41.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,198
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
132
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
325/yr
Avg Temp
60.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.70%
Livability
70
Business
70
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Irvine and Oxnard.
Open Cost Calculator