Marina, CA vs Imperial Beach, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Imperial Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 19.3% lower than Marina, CA.

Marina, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,690 / month
Imperial Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,790 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Marina, CA and Imperial Beach, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Marina, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,313/month in Imperial Beach, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $134,245 in Imperial Beach, CA

Regional cost estimates: Marina, CA uses San Jose, CA. Imperial Beach, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 19.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,313

Savings

Annual Impact

$15.8K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Marina, CA

Population:23K

Cost Index:

169.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$843K

Imperial Beach, CA

Population:25K

Cost Index:

136.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$823K

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Marina, CA

The Golden State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Imperial Beach, CA

The Golden State

25K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Marina, CA vs Imperial Beach, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Marina, CA	Imperial Beach, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$4,519/mo	$2,750/mo	↓ $1,770less	39.2%
Transportation	$731/mo	$919/mo	↑ $188more	25.7%
Other	$948/mo	$1,106/mo	↑ $159more	16.7%
All Utilities	$263/mo	$381/mo	↑ $118more	44.8%
Healthcare	$400/mo	$383/mo	↓ $16.50less	4.1%
Groceries	$639/mo	$648/mo	↑ $9.06more	1.4%

Housing

↓ 39.2%

Marina, CA

$4,519

Imperial Beach, CA

$2,750

Difference

$1,770

less

Transportation

↑ 25.7%

Marina, CA

$731

Imperial Beach, CA

$919

Difference

$188

Other

↑ 16.7%

Marina, CA

$948

Imperial Beach, CA

$1,106

Difference

$159

All Utilities

↑ 44.8%

Marina, CA

$263

Imperial Beach, CA

$381

Difference

$118

Healthcare

↓ 4.1%

Marina, CA

$400

Imperial Beach, CA

$383

Difference

$16.50

less

Groceries

↑ 1.4%

Marina, CA

$639

Imperial Beach, CA

$648

Difference

$9.06

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,180

To$2,130

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$2,240

To$2,290

↑ $50.00

2 Bed

From$2,690

To$2,790

↑ $100

3 Bed

From$3,630

To$3,720

↑ $90.00

Marina, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,240–$2,240/mo

Imperial Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,290–$2,290/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Marina, CA

$6,187

Monthly in Imperial Beach, CA

$1,313

Difference

Home Values

Marina

Imperial Beach

$843K

Median Value

$823K

↓ -3.9%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +21.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +23.7%

Homes in Imperial Beach are 2% less expensive than Marina

Calculate payment - Marina Calculate payment - Imperial Beach

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Marina, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Imperial Beach, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Marina, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Imperial Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Marina

Imperial Beach

47 Good

Air Quality

71 Moderate

55.4%

Good Air Days

12.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌅🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

Before moving from Marina, CA to Imperial Beach, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Imperial Beach, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Marina, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Marina to Imperial Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Imperial Beach, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Marina, CA vs Imperial Beach, CA

How do the cost estimates for Marina, CA and Imperial Beach, CA compare?

Imperial Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 19.3% lower than Marina, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Marina, CA, the model estimates $134,245 in Imperial Beach, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Marina, CA and Imperial Beach, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,690/month in Marina, CA and $2,790/month in Imperial Beach, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.