Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 10 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Irvine
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $608k less ($417,600 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1122/mo less ($1,627 vs $2,749)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 68°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $47,572/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,572 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°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 4% higher than Fort Lauderdale
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$608k less
$417,600 vs $1,025,700
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$47,572
$122,948 vs $75,376/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 40 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 22 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 10 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 10 and Irvine wins 9. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($75,376 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Irvine, CA are about 2,299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.