Costa Mesa

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Costa Mesa, CA

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Laid-back living at the heart of Orange County

Arts Suburb Commuter Beach

Over the years, Costa Mesa has attracted many new residents, thanks to the relatively affordable cost of living and relaxed environment; families are drawn to the quiet neighborhoods and quality schools. Just a few blocks inland from Newport Beach, visitors and locals relish a laid-back coastal atmosphere in Costa Mesa, and a day by the ocean is only a short drive away from anywhere in town.

The extensive trails of Talbert Regional Park and the links of Costa Mesa Golf Course provide more opportunities to soak up the Southern California sunshine. The performing arts are well-represented in venues as diverse as the modest Costa Mesa Playhouse, the open-air Pacific Amphitheatre, and the magnificent Segerstrom Concert Hall. Easy access to the 405 makes it simple to reach anywhere in the LA area for work or leisure.

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Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $2,108 for a studio, $2,486 for one bedroom, $2,936 for two bedrooms, and $3,238 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Costa Mesa has increased by 3.8% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,486/month
703 Sq Ft
House
$11,415/month
2,187 Sq Ft
Condo
$5,582/month
1,306 Sq Ft
Townhome
$5,853/month
1,549 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Costa Mesa, CA

Transportation

73

Very Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

38

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

66

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Heinz Kaiser Elementary

Public

Grades 3-6

553 Students

8
out of 10

Maude B. Davis Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

545 Students

8
out of 10

Killybrooke Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

423 Students

7
out of 10

California Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

375 Students

7
out of 10

Adams Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

355 Students

7
out of 10

Costa Mesa High

Public

Grades 7-12

1,776 Students

6
out of 10

Charles W. Tewinkle Middle

Public

Grades 7-8

506 Students

6
out of 10

Costa Mesa High

Public

Grades 7-12

1,776 Students

6
out of 10

Estancia High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,040 Students

6
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
  • Talbert Regional Park
  • Environmental Nature Center
  • Castaways Park
  • UCI Arboretum

Airports

  • John Wayne/Orange County
  • Long Beach (Daugherty Field)

Top Apartments in Costa Mesa

Houses for Rent in Costa Mesa

Property Management Companies in Costa Mesa, CA

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.