2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Costa Mesa, CA vs Richmond, VA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or is it cheaper to live in Costa Mesa?
- Richmond is 42.3% less expensive than Costa Mesa.

Which city has more affordable housing, Richmond or Costa Mesa?
- Richmond housing costs are 72.1% less expensive than Costa Mesa housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Costa Mesa or is Health Care more affordable in Richmond.
- Health related expenses are 6.2% more in Richmond.
 Costa Mesa, CARichmond, VAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock95.2100
 Food & Groceries105.1  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock99.2100
 Housing347.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$327,100$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock83.5100
 Miscellaneous156.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Costa Mesa    8 Reviews

Over 15 years ago

Costa mesa has awesome shopping but is way too crowded and I have had 3 cars stolen in the past 5 years along with countless break-ins and theft. Expensive. Close to  More

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Over 16 years ago

Costa Mesa has a near perfect climate . . . plenty of sun but rarely over 100 degrees (our house doesn't even have AC). Nestled between Newport Beach and Huntington  More

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We have a good amount of low-income, medium-income, and relatively high-income  More

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Reviews for Richmond    109 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

Lived here for a year and it’s not perfect but it’s constantly improving now (areas redevloped, more businesses, job growth). Cost of living is great compared to  More

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Over 4 years ago

We love Richmond so much that when we talk about where we'd like to live if we could live anywhere in the US, we always come back to RVA. We live in the city proper  More

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Over 4 years ago

I'm an out-of-towner but am coming up on 1 year in Richmond. I would summarize it this way: the best thing and the worst thing about Richmond is its location. I'll  More

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