Student Life Resources

2–5 km radius city life information around the university: housing, supermarkets, dining, transit, safety, healthcare, and job market insights.

UC Irvine

Irvine, California · United States
Master-planned city · safe · close to beaches

UC Irvine is located in a master-planned, very safe city in Orange County. Within a short distance, students can reach University Town Center cafés, shopping areas, parks, and beaches such as Newport and Laguna. Irvine offers a clean, modern environment with many internships in tech, business and healthcare.

Car-free partly possible near campus & UTC Living cost: medium–high for Southern California Strong job and internship market in Orange County
UC Irvine campus and Irvine city view

Housing

Shared room
$950–$1,400 / month (shared room in apartment or house)
1B apartment
$1,900–$2,600 / month in Irvine / nearby cities
Student areas
On-campus housing, East Campus, Park West, Park Place, neighboring Costa Mesa & Tustin
More housing details
Many first-year and exchange students live in UCI-managed on-campus housing. Upper-division students often share apartments in East Campus and nearby communities. Irvine offers quiet, residential neighborhoods with good access to campus by shuttle, bike or car.

Food

Campus meals
$11–$15 / meal at dining halls & campus cafés
Off-campus
$14–$22 / person at restaurants in University Town Center & nearby plazas
Groceries
$60–$90 / week at supermarkets such as Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, H-Mart, Costco
More about dining & groceries
Around UCI you will find many Asian, Mexican, American and fusion restaurants, bubble tea shops and cafés. Several large Asian supermarkets and big-box stores are within a short drive or bus ride, popular with international students.

Transit

Car-free living
Possible close to campus and UTC using UCI shuttles, OCTA buses, biking and walking. Many students still prefer sharing a car for flexibility.
Campus buses
UCI shuttles link campus housing, parking lots and some nearby areas; OCTA buses connect Irvine with other Orange County cities.
Airport access
About 10–15 minutes by car to John Wayne Airport (SNA); 45–60 minutes to LAX by car or shuttle, depending on traffic.
More about transit
Irvine has well-maintained roads, bike lanes and local buses. Students who live close to campus can manage with bikes and shuttles, while others share rides or use car-share services for beach trips and shopping.

Safety & Health

Campus safety
UCI Police Department, safety escorts, emergency blue-light phones and campus alerts.
Health Center
Student Health Center and Counseling Center on campus provide medical and mental health services.
Nearby hospital
UCI Medical Center in Orange and several hospitals / urgent care clinics in Irvine and neighboring cities.
More safety & health details
Irvine consistently ranks as one of the safest cities in the U.S. Students can access doctors, nurses and counselors on campus, with major hospitals nearby for specialized care or emergencies.

Economy & Jobs

Main industries
Technology, gaming, finance, healthcare, education, automotive design and tourism in Orange County.
Job friendliness
On-campus jobs, research labs, and strong internship market in Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and the greater OC area.
Commute to job hubs
10–25 minutes to Irvine Spectrum, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa; longer at peak times.
More about economy & jobs
Many companies near UCI recruit students for part-time work, CPT/OPT and internships. Fields include software, biomedical engineering, finance, data analytics and creative industries.

Official Links

University homepage Global / International office UCI Division of Continuing Education On-campus housing Off-campus housing Student Health & Counseling Campus Police Local transit

City Life Photos

Dining and cafés around UC Irvine campus

Dining and cafés at University Town Center and around UCI.

Bike paths and walking areas around Aldrich Park at UCI

Tree-lined paths for walking and biking around Aldrich Park at UCI.

Orange County beaches near UC Irvine such as Newport Beach

Beaches like Newport and Laguna are popular weekend destinations.

UC Irvine campus with modern buildings and palm trees

Modern UC Irvine campus in a planned, green Orange County city.