City comparison
Yes. Chula Vista's crime index is 87 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 107 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $2,229 in Chula Vista.
The income gap between Chula Vista and Irving is significant: $108,032 median household versus $81,830. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,229 in Chula Vista and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Chula Vista wins on the job market and safety and Irving wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Irving at $1,619 average has pockets that run $1,419 and others at $2,019: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chula Vista and Irving are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,229 a month in Chula Vista to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $610 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $108,032 in Chula Vista to $81,830 in Irving, down $26,202 (24%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Chula Vista to 99 in Irving, up 12 points (14%).
The move
Irving and Chula Vista are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $2,229 a month in Chula Vista, up $610 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $108,032 in Chula Vista, up $26,202 (32%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 87 in Chula Vista, down 12 points (12%).
Chula Vista, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chula Vista and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Irving rent is 27% cheaper than Chula Vista
Chula Vista
$2,229/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $2,229 in Chula Vista, so Irving is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $610/month back in your pocket ($7,320/year). Over five years that's $36,600 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Chula Vista, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Irving is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Chula Vista? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Chula Vista's median income is 32% higher than Irving
Chula Vista
Winner$108,032
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $108,032 in Chula Vista versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Chula Vista (about $26,202 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chula Vista is the stronger labor market on paper. Irving can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
Chula Vista's crime index is 12% lower than Irving
Chula Vista
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Chula Vista's crime index is 87 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Chula Vista. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Chula Vista, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Irving. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Chula Vista and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Chula Vista
70°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chula Vista averages about 70°F (76°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Chula Vista sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chula Vista is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($108,032). Start with Chula Vista if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chula Vista is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Irving (87 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Irving
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Irving undercuts Chula Vista by $610/month ($1,619 vs $2,229). I would not pick Chula Vista on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Irving rent at $1,619/month is still below Chula Vista's $2,229, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in Chula Vista and 60/100 in Irving.
Between Chula Vista and Irving, Irving is ahead on housing cost — $1,619/month rent against $2,229. Lean Chula Vista instead when your $108,032 income offer in Chula Vista outweighs saving $610/month in Irving.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chula Vista and Irving, plus other cities in CA and TX.
