City comparison
No. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Irvine split most clearly. Irvine scores 149 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $2,997 in Irvine.
Irvine is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Irvine is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Irvine are 806 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $1,349 a month (82%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $136,719 in Irvine, up $51,901 (61%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 51 in Irvine, down 149 points (75%).
The move
Irvine and Colorado Springs are 806 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $1,349 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $51,901 (38%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 149 points (292%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irvine, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
45% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 45% cheaper than Irvine
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Colorado Springs is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $1,349/month back in your pocket ($16,188/year). Over five years that's $80,940 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 Irvine, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Irvine's median income is 61% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Irvine (about $51,901 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, Irvine is the stronger labor market on paper. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 75% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% lower in Irvine. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Irvine is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Irvine weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irvine
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Irvine averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irvine sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irvine scores 39% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 61% higher ($136,719), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 75% lower than Colorado Springs (51 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Irvine: Irvine scores 80/100 versus 39/100 in Colorado Springs, with typical rent at $2,997 versus $1,648. I would vet the exact ZIP in Colorado Springs before trading 41 safety points for housing savings.
Irvine still pays more locally ($136,719 median income vs $84,818), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irvine rates.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs.
Pick Irvine when you want the stronger safety signal (80/100). Otherwise, Colorado Springs's case rests on a Colorado Springs ZIP you trust at $1,648 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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