How much does it cost to rent in Irvine, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Irvine, CA is $3,390. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Irvine cheaper than other California cities?

Irvine is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #93 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,390/mo.

When was Irvine rent data last updated?

Irvine rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Irvine

Name: Average Rent Prices in Irvine, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 311,690·93rd most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,390/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.9%

vs US Median

+$1,425

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Irvine · $3,390

More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

54/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% below what Irvine's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,390/mo

Expected by trend

$3,462/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Irvine's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,000

1 BR

$3,131

2 BR

$3,704

3 BR

$5,014

4 BR+

$5,986

Research median

$3,704/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$40,680/yr

At $3,390/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 3.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Irvine, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 70.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

311,690

Median income

$136,719

Median age

Renters

55.5%

Age distribution

21.7%

30%

27.9%

Under 1821.7%

18–3430%

35–5427.9%

55–649.6%

65+10.8%

Gender

48.8%

51.2%

Male48.8%

Female51.2%

Race & ethnicity

36.7%

44.8%

White36.7%

Black2%

Hispanic11.4%

Asian44.8%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

18.4%

70.6%

No HS diploma3.3%

HS diploma7.7%

Some college18.4%

Bachelor's+70.6%

Housing tenure

44.5%

55.5%

Owner44.5%

Renter55.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Irvine, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,481 → $3,390

up 36.6%

Income

$114,027 → $136,719

up 19.9%

Population

297,868 → 311,690

up 4.6%

Renter share

55.5% → 55.5%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

68.6% → 70.6%

+2.0 pts

The median rent in Irvine, CA stood at $2,481 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,390, reflecting a 36.6% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Irvine, CA now reports about $136,719, up from $114,027 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.6% since 2021, moving from about 297,868 residents to roughly 311,690. College-educated residents now make up 70.6% of adults here, versus 68.6% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Irvine, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Irvine

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View Irvine rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Irvine on your salary?

At $3,390/mo, how Irvine rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 36.5% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 51.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 44.6% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 19.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 54.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 60.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 49.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Irvine rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Irvine. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Irvine

About renting in Irvine, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Irvine is $3,390/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,704/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,131/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,014/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($136,719/yr), Irvine ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Irvine an affordable city for renters?

Irvine is considered moderate for renters. At $3,390/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($136,719/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Irvine slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Irvine?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $136,000/year (~$65/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,390/mo in Irvine. The local median household income is $136,719/yr, meaning the typical Irvine household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Irvine?

Rent in Irvine has increased 3.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Irvine neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Irvine are 92614 ($3,202/mo), 92606 ($3,266/mo), and 92612 ($3,283/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Irvine is $3,390/mo.

How does Irvine rent compare to other cities in California?

Irvine is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #93 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,390/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Irvine?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Irvine ($3,390/mo): Santa Ana ($2,785/mo), Laguna Woods ($2,894/mo), Tustin ($3,151/mo).

What percentage of Irvine residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.5% of Irvine households are renters, while 44.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Irvine has a strong rental market.

How does Irvine rent compare to the national average?

Irvine's median rent of $3,390/mo is $1,425 (73%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #93 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $3,390/mo, rent takes ~30% of Irvine's median household income ($136,719/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Irvine 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Irvine affordability calculator →

Nearby cities