| Measure | Huntington BeachCalifornia, United States Remove Huntington Beach | Costa MesaCalifornia, United States Remove Costa Mesa |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| Connector Score | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| Safety | 8.3 | 7.6 |
| Affordability | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| Transportation | 5.5 | 7.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Walkability | 6.9 | 3.7 |
| Things to do | 6.1 | 6.1 |
| Food & dining | 6.0 | 6.7 |
| Places to stay | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Nature & outdoors | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Scenic value | 6.3 | 6.8 |
| Family friendliness | 5.7 | 5.5 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 6.7 | 5.5 |
| Nightlife | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 4.8 | 5.1 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $180 | $175 |
| Mid-range | $263 | $255 |
| Luxury | $471 | $434 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 183 | 168 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $2,800 | $2,800 |
| Population | 191K | 109K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Airport | Drive Train Airport |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Huntington Beach | — | 10 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Beaches | Beaches |
| Known for | Beaches, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Food scene, Shopping | Beaches, Mountains & hiking, Museums & galleries, Food scene, Shopping |
| When to go | Peak: June to early September and US Open of… | Peak: Summer and school holidays |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.