Comfortable Weather
#2
of 124 cities
92/100 weather score
Current value
#28 of 124
North America
Irvine
CA, United States
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Irvine compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Irvine is 23% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Irvine compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$111,960
-$61K (-35%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 38%
Community Insights
NewIrvine presents a polarizing trade-off for software engineers: it offers a pristine, highly manicured suburban bubble that is arguably the best place in the US to raise a family, but it can feel stiflingly boring for young professionals. While the median SWE salary is strong ($180k), the cost of living is comparable to major tech hubs, meaning your purchasing power might not stretch as far as expected.
The local tech scene is distinct, moving away from the generic web-tech focus of the Bay Area and leaning heavily into gaming (Blizzard), defense tech (Anduril), and EV/Auto (Rivian). This creates a stable but sometimes "corporate" and intense work culture. Ultimately, Irvine is a city that has "optimized" life to be safe, clean, and efficient, often at the expense of character and spontaneity.
Resident Sentiment
Current residents, especially transplants from the Bay Area, often describe a "golden handcuffs" situation: they complain about the boredom and the "beige" uniformity, but admit they cannot leave because the safety, convenience, and schools are too good to give up.
There is a common sentiment that the city is "sterile" but "functional." Young engineers often regret the lack of a dating pool, frequently joking that they have to import their social lives from neighboring cities like Costa Mesa or Newport Beach. However, residents generally agree that the Asian food options are a massive, redeeming perk that adds flavor to an otherwise vanilla lifestyle.
Rankings
Top 2%
Net Income
#11
of 124 cities
$111,960/yr
Current value
Purchasing Power
#28
of 124 cities
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Irvine compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Irvine to maintain the same standard of living.
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