Costa Mesa vs San Francisco
Side-by-side rent vs buy analysis comparing these two markets
Overall Comparison
Costa Mesa has an edge
Costa Mesa currently favors renting, with better rent-to-price dynamics.
Median Home PriceBETTER
$1,139,097.82
Median RentBETTER
$3,154.03/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
30.1
Property Tax RateTIE
0.73%
Price Change (1Y)
-0.1%
Price Change (5Y)
-0.8%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth DifferenceBETTER
$890,344
Median Home Price
$1,245,307.09
Median Rent
$3,679.66/mo
Price-to-Rent RatioBETTER
28.2
Property Tax RateTIE
0.73%
Price Change (1Y)BETTER
+0.9%
Price Change (5Y)BETTER
+4.6%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth Difference
$1,043,177
Key Differences
Home Prices
Costa Mesa's median home price of $1,139,097.82 is lower than San Francisco's $1,245,307.09 by 9%.
Monthly Rent
Renting in Costa Mesa costs $3,154.03/mo compared to $3,679.66/mo in San Francisco—a difference of $525.63/mo.
Buy vs Rent Verdict
Both cities currently favor renting.
Break-Even Timeline
Break-even analysis varies based on market conditions in each city.
Run Your Own Numbers
This comparison uses median values. Your income, savings, and goals matter. Use our Buy vs Rent calculator to get a personalized analysis.