Cost of Living in Irvine, CA compared to Austin,TX

[darthsidious]

I'm currently doing an internship in austin, and I'm graduating in February 2008. I got a job offer from a company located in Irvine,CA, and I'm likely to get an offer from my current internship place soon. Monetarily, They should both be about the same (mid-upper 80k), give or take a few thousand dollars. Now I know Irvine would be a lot more expensive than Austin, but how much? I've looked at the online calculators, but I'm trying to get a sense of average costs on things like rent, food, etc.

So people who live in Irvine/surrounding areas, how nuch would it cost ot rent an decent apartment in/near Irvine? Eating out at a restaurant? A night out at the clubs/drinking? Obviously, my descision will be based on other factors as well, but I'm trying to get more information about Irvine living costs before deciding.

TIA,

 

[KLin]

CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

 

[uclaLabrat]

I live in Costa Mesa, next town over. On 80K, you can do just fine in irvine...not buy a house, maybe not even a condo, but you can get a nice apartment. There's a lot to do, with the spectrum, newport, and other cities nearby. Good place to live.

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

That's a cool link. Thanks for posting.

 

[darthsidious]

See, this is where I'm not sure if the calculators are actually accurate. According to that calculator, housing in Irvine costs 194% more than in austin. Now, a half-decent 1 Br apartment in austin costs about 700 per month. According to that calculator, the same apartment in Irvine would be over 2k, which seems a little excessive. Also, it fails to take into account the fact that you might live in one of the lower cost suburbs of Irvine, while still working there.

This is why I wanted to get some real-life numbers regading rental costs, eating out costs etc.

Thanks for the link though.

Edit: Just noticed that the link is for all of OC, not just for Irvine... sorry.

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

 

[uclaLabrat]

For a 1-Bed apt, expect to pay about $1500/mo in most parts of irvine, maybe a little less. Food, I don't know, $500/mo or so, depends on how much you eat. Utilities, $200/mo for cable and broadband, then whatever car and insurance you have. Probably have $3K/mo in expenses (Highball) and the rest you can bank.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: darthsidious
See, this is where I'm not sure if the calculators are actually accurate. According to that calculator, housing in Irvine costs 194% more than in austin. Now, a half-decent 1 Br apartment in austin costs about 700 per month. According to that calculator, the same apartment in Irvine would be over 2k, which seems a little excessive. Also, it fails to take into account the fact that you might live in one of the lower cost suburbs of Irvine, while still working there.

This is why I wanted to get some real-life numbers regading rental costs, eating out costs etc.

Thanks for the link though.

Edit: Just noticed that the link is for all of OC, not just for Irvine... sorry.

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

You're going to make 80k /yr and you're worried about the cost of an apartment?

What you should be interested in is the median home value. In Austin you can get a pretty nice house for $150-250k. Try that in CA.

 

[her209]

A 1 bd / 1 ba will set you back about $1400 / month.

 

[darthsidious]

Originally posted by: uclaLabrat
I live in Costa Mesa, next town over. On 80K, you can do just fine in irvine...not buy a house, maybe not even a condo, but you can get a nice apartment. There's a lot to do, with the spectrum, newport, and other cities nearby. Good place to live.

Yeah, I came down to Irvine to interview recently , and the weather/beach was awesome. From talking to people though, it seemed like it lacked in things to do outside of work - you had to go to LA for any kind of nightlife, compared to austin, which has a vibrant evening scence, because of all the college students and the young professionals.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: darthsidious
See, this is where I'm not sure if the calculators are actually accurate. According to that calculator, housing in Irvine costs 194% more than in austin. Now, a half-decent 1 Br apartment in austin costs about 700 per month. According to that calculator, the same apartment in Irvine would be over 2k, which seems a little excessive. Also, it fails to take into account the fact that you might live in one of the lower cost suburbs of Irvine, while still working there.

This is why I wanted to get some real-life numbers regading rental costs, eating out costs etc.

Thanks for the link though.

Edit: Just noticed that the link is for all of OC, not just for Irvine... sorry.

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

I am assuming you have lived in TX most of your life, which is why you think that sounds outrageous. It is excessive, but it's CA. You will live like a king in TX, why go to CA?

Also, are you graduating with your masters? I don't know of any undergrad majors that would get a 80k offer right out of school. Most I have heard of was a buddy that got a 74k offer at Exxon-Mobil right out of school.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Nah, Irvine has plenty of bars, etc. As far as big clubs, maybe hollywood/LA is more the place to go, but man, I hate it up in LA. Did the hollywood scene last weekend, it just sucked.

I'd rather drink in a bar in irvine, huntington, newport, etc. on any given night. And the girls are a lot hotter.

Then again, I don't go out much.

 

[darthsidious]

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: darthsidious
See, this is where I'm not sure if the calculators are actually accurate. According to that calculator, housing in Irvine costs 194% more than in austin. Now, a half-decent 1 Br apartment in austin costs about 700 per month. According to that calculator, the same apartment in Irvine would be over 2k, which seems a little excessive. Also, it fails to take into account the fact that you might live in one of the lower cost suburbs of Irvine, while still working there.

This is why I wanted to get some real-life numbers regading rental costs, eating out costs etc.

Thanks for the link though.

Edit: Just noticed that the link is for all of OC, not just for Irvine... sorry.

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

You're going to make 80k /yr and you're worried about the cost of an apartment?

What you should be interested in is the median home value. In Austin you can get a pretty nice house for $150-250k. Try that in CA.

Well, I'm 22 and single, so I forsee living in an apartment for the next few years atleast, especially as I'm not sure as to where I'd settle (I may end up going to grad school in a few years, and a mortgage would be a PITA then). And yes, housing is way cheaper in Austin than CA (though the property taxes are astronomical), but in the short run, I'm not interested in buying a house here.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: darthsidious

Well, I'm 22 and single, so I forsee living in an apartment for the next few years atleast, especially as I'm not sure as to where I'd settle (I may end up going to grad school in a few years, and a mortgage would be a PITA then). And yes, housing is way cheaper in Austin than CA (though the property taxes are astronomical), but in the short run, I'm not interested in buying a house here.

Ugh. No doubt there.

 

[darthsidious]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: darthsidious
See, this is where I'm not sure if the calculators are actually accurate. According to that calculator, housing in Irvine costs 194% more than in austin. Now, a half-decent 1 Br apartment in austin costs about 700 per month. According to that calculator, the same apartment in Irvine would be over 2k, which seems a little excessive. Also, it fails to take into account the fact that you might live in one of the lower cost suburbs of Irvine, while still working there.

This is why I wanted to get some real-life numbers regading rental costs, eating out costs etc.

Thanks for the link though.

Edit: Just noticed that the link is for all of OC, not just for Irvine... sorry.

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

I am assuming you have lived in TX most of your life, which is why you think that sounds outrageous. It is excessive, but it's CA. You will live like a king in TX, why go to CA?

Also, are you graduating with your masters? I don't know of any undergrad majors that would get a 80k offer right out of school. Most I have heard of was a buddy that got a 74k offer at Exxon-Mobil right out of school.

Nah, far from it. I grew up/went to high school in India, then came to the US for college (Bachelors and Masters) in Boston (MIT), and I'm currently interning+ finishing up my master's thesis at a company in texas. So yes, I'm coming out with a master's. In a few years I might get a Phd, but right now I think industry experience in my field would be mroe valuable. So I've seen high cost of living places (Boston), and given my liberal-ish background, austin is probably the only place in texas I'd feel comfortable in.

There are distinct advantages to living in austin- mostly the lower cost of living, fun college town type vibe. But there are probably more opportunities for career advancement in CA for my field (analog design), though a lot of companies are now moving to austin. The weather is nicer. The girls are hotter , etc.... Fewer hippes/music festivals that clog up streets. The overall balance seems to be leaning in favour of austin right now though.

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: darthsidious

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: darthsidious
See, this is where I'm not sure if the calculators are actually accurate. According to that calculator, housing in Irvine costs 194% more than in austin. Now, a half-decent 1 Br apartment in austin costs about 700 per month. According to that calculator, the same apartment in Irvine would be over 2k, which seems a little excessive. Also, it fails to take into account the fact that you might live in one of the lower cost suburbs of Irvine, while still working there.

This is why I wanted to get some real-life numbers regading rental costs, eating out costs etc.

Thanks for the link though.

Edit: Just noticed that the link is for all of OC, not just for Irvine... sorry.

Originally posted by: KLin
CNN money Cost of living comparison

Stay in Austin.

I am assuming you have lived in TX most of your life, which is why you think that sounds outrageous. It is excessive, but it's CA. You will live like a king in TX, why go to CA?

Also, are you graduating with your masters? I don't know of any undergrad majors that would get a 80k offer right out of school. Most I have heard of was a buddy that got a 74k offer at Exxon-Mobil right out of school.

Nah, far from it. I grew up/went to high school in India, then came to the US for college (Bachelors and Masters) in Boston (MIT), and I'm currently interning+ finishing up my master's thesis at a company in texas. So yes, I'm coming out with a master's. In a few years I might get a Phd, but right now I think industry experience in my field would be mroe valuable. So I've seen high cost of living places (Boston), and given my liberal-ish background, austin is probably the only place in texas I'd feel comfortable in.

There are distinct advantages to living in austin- mostly the lower cost of living, fun college town type vibe. But there are probably more opportunities for career advancement in CA for my field (analog design), though a lot of companies are now moving to austin. The weather is nicer. The girls are hotter , etc.... Fewer hippes/music festivals that clog up streets. The overall balance seems to be leaning in favour of austin right now though.

mid 80s, damn, you must be one hell of a designer..well its MIT so I suspect you're probably pretty good I'm hoping to get into RF/analog design as well, graduating in Dec with my MS from GA Tech.

I might move to Austin also, depending on how the job search ends up. But with that type of salary, I'd definitely chose to live downtown and pay ~$1500/month for a 1bdrm in a fancy building right next to 6th street and Town Lake..I looked at some places in that ballpark when I was considering UT for my MS. With the 70s I should get, I'm not living in some substandard student housing on West Campus.

Places like 404 Rio Grande and the Gables that is down there come to mind..

 

[bennylong]

As long as you don't need to buy a house, you'll do fine with 80k in Irvine. Don't know how much it cost for an apartment in Austin, but it will set you back around $1200 to $2000 around the area.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: bennylong
As long as you don't need to buy a house, you'll do fine with 80k in Irvine. Don't know how much it cost for an apartment in Austin, but it will set you back around $1200 to $2000 around the area.

yup.

I might say even just go for a two bedroom place, low end you can get around 1200 with higher end up to 2k (unless you go ultra luxury). I guess it kinda depends on the type of place your looking for.

80K you should be fine in Irvine. I suggest living in Tustin/Costa Mesa though since you'll probably find a cheaper place

 

[darthsidious]

Originally posted by: erub

mid 80s, damn, you must be one hell of a designer..well its MIT so I suspect you're probably pretty good I'm hoping to get into RF/analog design as well, graduating in Dec with my MS from GA Tech.

I might move to Austin also, depending on how the job search ends up. But with that type of salary, I'd definitely chose to live downtown and pay ~$1500/month for a 1bdrm in a fancy building right next to 6th street and Town Lake..I looked at some places in that ballpark when I was considering UT for my MS. With the 70s I should get, I'm not living in some substandard student housing on West Campus.

Places like 404 Rio Grande and the Gables that is down there come to mind..

I actually work in downtown austin (If you know the austin analog scene, that should enable you to narrow down the place I work for to a short list), and while the nightlife is fun, I wouldn't want to live in downtown - outside 6th street/warehouse district, the place is dead at night - even walking back from the crowded areas to more secluded parts of downtown can feel weird. And dinner options near downtown are almost exclusively upper end - most of the casual eateries close in the evening. I'd much rather pay for parking/a cab whenever I go downtown than pay the premium to live there (though having free parking downtown courtusy of work can be nice).

P.S. : What kind of places are you looking to apply to?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: erub
Places like 404 Rio Grande and the Gables that is down there come to mind..

jeez, and i thought my rent at the gables central park was exorbitant. at the time, the gables central park was the only recently-build apartment complex between the river and 183, 35 and mopac.

 

[darthsidious]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: erub
Places like 404 Rio Grande and the Gables that is down there come to mind..

jeez, and i thought my rent at the gables central park was exorbitant. at the time, the gables central park was the only recently-build apartment complex between the river and 183, 35 and mopac.

Yeah, luxury apartments are sure popping up rapidly here. In downtown, there's 4 seperate condo/luxury apt. complexes being built right now...the return of high tech to austin is driving housing prices up.

 

[Mikey]

If you live in Irvine, the place to be at night that's not LA is Anaheim and downtown Fullerton. I live about 15 minutes away from Irvine (currently in the laguna beach area), but I'm looking to move to Fullerton to be closer to school. If you want to live somewhere cheaper, but still within 10-15 min of Fullerton, try Anaheim or the surrounding area. You can find a 1 bedroom for about $1000-1200, or a 2 bedroom for $1300-1500, and even a 3 bedroom for $1800-1900.

 

[Dunbar]

You can live quite comfortably on $85k/yr in the Irvine area. I would figure $1400-1500 a month for a nice 1BR apartment in that area. I live close by in Chino Hills so I can give you an idea of the cost of living. I would budget about $2200 a month for fixed expenses and food (that includes rent, utilities, insurance, groceries and household expenses.) Add to that a car payment (if you have one), entertainment and discretionary spending (clothes, electronics, vacation etc.) I imagine you'll be taking home around $4000-4500 a month assuming you make a 401k contribution. So as long as you don't spend wrecklessly you'll live just fine. Just don't expect to be able to afford a house on anything less than $120k/yr.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Please tell me the job isn't with MTI.

 

[darthsidious]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Please tell me the job isn't with MTI.

Nope, and I don't even know what that company is. Any particular reason for that comment?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Move to Irvine, enjoy the big city life and enjoy California. San Diego and LA. Huntington Beach is right next door as well. Sure its gonna cost you another $10K a year in expenses but it will be worth it. Once you tire of the CA scene, move to Austin and take that other job.

Another thought is:

In Irvine your raises may be substatnially higher than if you lived in Austin as the Company know they have to pay you damn well in order to stay.

if your goal is to own a home in 1-2yrs then live in Austin.