Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $721k less ($304,500 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1435/mo less ($1,314 vs $2,749)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $51,275/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,275 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$721k less
$304,500 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$51,275
$122,948 vs $71,673/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
84% lower
84.0 vs 539.8 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Irvine
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 304,527 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 9 and Irvine wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Irvine, CA are about 1,727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.