Irvine has become a destination for many people moving to Southern California. About 307,700 people live in Irvine, and the city has many corporate headquarters for companies such as Taco Bell, Asics, and Vizio. It’s also well-known for being the home of the University of California, Irvine.
If you’re considering buying a home in Irvine, expect the median home sale price to be around $1,225,000, and the average sale price per square foot is $659. For renters, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Irvine is about $3,557.
If those numbers are out of your budget, don’t worry, we’ve got options to help you find a home. We’ve gathered a list of the 10 best affordable Irvine suburbs to check out. And they’re all less than 25 minutes away from the city. That way, you can live near Irvine and all its unique activities without paying the premium price of living there.
#1: Laguna Woods
Median home price: $365,000
Average sale price per square foot: $376
Driving distance from Irvine: 20 minutes
Laguna Woods, CA homes for sale
Laguna Woods, CA apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of nearly $860K less than Irvine, Laguna Woods is the most affordable Irvine suburb on our list. Just about a 20-minute drive away from Irvine, you won’t miss out on what the city has to offer. If you’re considering moving to this area, make sure to visit the Laguna Woods Golf Club and the Laguna Woods History Center.
#2: Santa Ana
Median home price: $771,000
Average sale price per square foot: $538
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $2,902
Driving distance from Irvine: 15 minutes
Santa Ana, CA homes for sale
Santa Ana, CA apartments for rent
Santa Ana comes in as the second most affordable suburb in Irvine. Just about 15 minutes from Irvine, you can visit the Great Park and Turtle Rock Community Park in just a quick drive. Some popular attractions in Santa Ana include visiting the Santa Ana Historic District, sampling craft beer at the 4th Street Market, and walking along the Santa Ana River Trail. You’ll always find a new reason to love living in this suburb of 310,000 people.
#3: Aliso Viejo
Median home price: $847,500
Average sale price per square foot: $592
Driving distance from Irvine: 20 minutes
Aliso Viejo, CA homes for sale
Aliso Viejo, CA apartments for rent
Aliso Viejo takes the third spot on our list, with a median home sale price of $847,500 and only a 20-minute drive away. Even with a population of about 52,200, there are plenty of cool areas to explore in Aliso Viejo. If you’re moving to the third most affordable suburb, visit the Aliso Viejo Town Center for shopping and dining, take a stroll or bike ride along the Aliso Creek Trail, or explore one of the many parks in the area.
“My favorite affordable thing to do is walk the Mission Viejo Lake with my family. The view is amazing and we always have a great time,” recommends Daniel Seong from Great Park Insurance. 
#4: Rancho Santa Margarita
Median home price: $850,000
Average sale price per square foot: $544
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $2,960
Driving distance from Irvine: 25 minutes
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA homes for sale
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA apartments for rent
A little more expensive than Aliso Viejo is the suburb of Rancho Santa Margarita. With a population close to 48,000, there’s still plenty to do in this Irvine suburb. Plan to spend the day kayaking on the lake at O’Neill Regional Park, visit the Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Park, or play golf at one of the local courses.
#5: Mission Viejo
Median home price: $899,000
Average sale price per square foot: $551
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $2,986
Driving distance from Irvine: 20 minutes
Mission Viejo, CA homes for sale
Mission Viejo, CA apartments for rent
20 minutes away from downtown Irvine is Mission Viejo, another great suburb to consider moving to. Home to 93,700 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Irvine without paying the price for a home in the city. Living in Mission Viejo, you can visit the Oso Creek Trail, head to Florence Joyner Olympiad Park, or take a dip in the Casta del Sol Community Pool.
#6: Tustin
Median home price: $930,000
Average sale price per square foot: $559
Driving distance from Irvine: 15 minutes
Tustin, CA homes for sale
Tustin, CA apartments for rent
A recognizable Irvine suburb is Tustin, where the home prices are about $200K less than in Irvine. Tustin has about 80,300 residents and is a great suburb to consider buying or renting a home in. Make sure to check out the Tustin Market Place for shopping and dining, play a round of golf at the Tustin Ranch Golf Course, and visit the Tustin Historical Museum. You’ll never tire of exploring this great suburb.
#7: Costa Mesa
Median home price: $1,169,500
Average sale price per square foot: $706
Driving distance from Irvine: 10 minutes
Costa Mesa, CA homes for sale
Costa Mesa, CA apartments for rent
Seventh on our list of affordable Irvine suburbs is Costa Mesa, roughly a 10-minute drive into the city center. With a population of roughly 111,900, you’ll live in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to experience in Costa Mesa. Check out an event at the Orange County Fairgrounds, play golf at one of the courses, or take a short drive to Newport Beach to spend the afternoon in the sun once living in this suburb.
#8: Huntington Beach
Median home price: $1,180,000
Average sale price per square foot: $652
Driving distance from Irvine: 25 minutes
Huntington Beach, CA homes for sale
Huntington Beach, CA apartments for rent
If you’ve lived in Irvine for a while, chances are you know of Huntington Beach or have spent a beach day there. About 198,700 people live in Huntington Beach, so you’ll have a fraction of Irvine’s population while remaining only 25 minutes from the city. Be sure to take a surf lesson at Huntington Beach State Park, explore the International Surfing Museum, and end the day by watching a beautiful sunset at the Huntington Beach Pier.
#9: Fountain Valley
Median home price: $1,200,000
Average sale price per square foot: $622
Driving distance from Irvine: 15 minutes
Fountain Valley, CA homes for sale
Fountain Valley, CA apartments for rent
Fountain Valley is a great place to consider moving to that will get you access to downtown Irvine in just about 15 minutes. Close to 57,000 people live in this suburb, but there are plenty of activities in Fountain Valley. Popular things to do in Fountain Valley include exploring Mile Square Regional Park, going to the Fountain Valley Skating Center, or taking a stroll along the Santa Ana River Trail.
#10: Laguna Hills
Median home price: $1,210,000
Average sale price per square foot: $563
Driving distance from Irvine: 20 minutes
Laguna Hills, CA homes for sale
Laguna Hills, CA apartments for rent
Last but not least on our list of affordable Irvine suburbs is Laguna Hills. On a rare traffic-free day in Orange County, it’ll only take about 20 minutes to drive into Irvine. This suburb has a population of 31,400, and you can visit one of the many parks like Moulton Ranch Park, Sheep Hills Park, or Nellie Gale Ranch, and be sure to check out Mythea Castle. There’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in this awesome suburb.
Affordable things to do in Irvine
1. Angelina’s Pizzeria
“My favorite affordable thing to do in Irvine, California is to drink authentic Italian wine at Angelina’s Pizzeria. They host a wine tasting every Saturday,” recommends Johnny Azzi. “I love going with my friends and I would recommend it to all wine lovers.”
2. Great Park Trails
“One of our favorite free or budget-friendly activities in Irvine is walking, jogging, or biking through the natural landscapes within the Great Park Trails by Great Park Neighborhoods,” suggests FivePoint. “There are three excellent trails under crossings and plenty of shaded benches along the way to take a breather. It’s peaceful, picturesque, and a perfect place to pack a picnic and bring your kids as there’s an adjoining children’s playground.”
3. Make reservations at Tanaka Farms
“It’s not widely known that you can make dinner tonight in Irvine with the produce you picked,” provides Greer Wylder. “My family and I love to go to Tanaka Farms in Irvine for a U-Pick Wagon Ride that includes a wagon ride around the farm, harvesting produce, and visiting the animals in the Barnyard Educational Exhibit. And Tanaka Farms also has a Walk-Up Produce Market Stand & Gift Shop open daily from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.”
4. Irvine Regional Park & Orange County Zoo
“The people we serve enjoy spending time at Irvine Regional Park, because it is affordable and there’s something for everyone,” says Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County. “One favorite activity they enjoy is taking a stroll through the Orange County Zoo, but they also enjoy picnics and hikes. For those wanting more, there are train rides, paddle boats and pony rides.”
5. Irvine Valley College activities
“A budget-friendly activity in Irvine that I highly recommend is to visit Irvine Valley College’s (IVC) Performing Arts Center. They offer a variety of shows—from jazz concerts to choreographed showcases, musicals, plays, and more—the college offers great ways to enjoy live music and art at a low or zero cost,” recommends Julianna M. Barnes, Chancellor of the South Orange County Community College District. “In addition to live performances for the community, IVC has affordable, enriching classes for people of all ages and backgrounds. So when you think of fun and affordable things to do in Irvine, think of IVC to keep you busy on a budget.”
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Irvine and under a 25-minute drive from downtown Irvine. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
