Cost of Living: Santa Ana, CA vs Irving, TX (2026)

Santa Ana

California
163
VS

Irving

Texas
102

Santa Ana is 60% more expensive than Irving.

$1,975/mo ↑ 30%
Median Rent
$1,517/mo ↓ 23%
$88,354/yr ↑ 11%
Median Income
$79,641/yr ↓ 10%
$657,800 ↑ 129%
Home Value
$287,300 ↓ 56%
$1,965/mo ↑ 29%
Owner Costs
$1,521/mo ↓ 23%
311,639
Population
255,036

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.6%

Affordability

26.8%
rent-to-income
Affordability
22.9%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Ana, CA and Irving, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 163 and 102 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $458/month cheaper in Irving, saving renters about $5,496/year.

Median household income is $8,713/year higher in Santa Ana. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Ana is $657,800 compared to $287,300 in Irving.

Texas has no state income tax, giving Irving residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Ana vs Irving — common questions

Is Santa Ana or Irving cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Irving is cheaper to live in with an index of 102 compared to 163 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Ana and Irving?
Median rent in Santa Ana is $1,975/month and in Irving it's $1,517/month — a difference of $458/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Ana or Irving?
Median household income is $88,354 in Santa Ana and $79,641 in Irving. Median household income is $8,713/year higher in Santa Ana.
How do taxes compare between California and Texas?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Ana or Irving?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Ana has a cost index of 163 with median rent of $1,975/mo, while Irving has a cost index of 102 with rent of $1,517/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Ana details → View Irving details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Ana and Irving

Santa Ana vs. Orlando Santa Ana vs. Cincinnati Santa Ana vs. Riverside Santa Ana vs. Irvine Santa Ana vs. Corpus Christi Santa Ana vs. St. Paul Irving vs. Laredo Irving vs. Chesapeake Irving vs. St. Petersburg Irving vs. Winston-Salem Irving vs. Lubbock Irving vs. Glendale