Cost of Living · California

Los Angeles Cost of Living

Los Angeles, California costs approximately 22.0% above the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

1.22×

cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)

Los Angeles ranks 4 of 13 cities in California by cost of living.

Cities MORE expensive than Los Angeles (5)

San Francisco, CA

+18.9% more expensive

+10.7% more expensive

New York City, NY

+8.2% more expensive

+6.6% more expensive

+6.6% more expensive

Cities CHEAPER than Los Angeles (93)

−0.8% cheaper

−1.6% cheaper

−1.6% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

Chula Vista, CA

−5.7% cheaper

−8.2% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−11.5% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−14.8% cheaper

Minneapolis, MN

−14.8% cheaper

−14.8% cheaper

−14.8% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

Philadelphia, PA

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

Salt Lake City, UT

−16.4% cheaper

−17.2% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

Virginia Beach, VA

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

North Las Vegas, NV

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.9% cheaper

−18.9% cheaper

Colorado Springs, CO

−18.9% cheaper

Bakersfield, CA

−18.9% cheaper

St. Petersburg, FL

−18.9% cheaper

−18.9% cheaper

−19.7% cheaper

Jacksonville, FL

−20.5% cheaper

−20.5% cheaper

−20.5% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−22.1% cheaper

−22.1% cheaper

Tallahassee, FL

−22.1% cheaper

−23.0% cheaper

Albuquerque, NM

−23.0% cheaper

New Orleans, LA

−23.0% cheaper

San Antonio, TX

−23.8% cheaper

Grand Rapids, MI

−23.8% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

Kansas City, MO

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

Corpus Christi, TX

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−25.4% cheaper

−25.4% cheaper

−25.4% cheaper

Winston-Salem, NC

−25.4% cheaper

Indianapolis, IN

−26.2% cheaper

−26.2% cheaper

−26.2% cheaper

−27.0% cheaper

Oklahoma City, OK

−27.0% cheaper

−27.0% cheaper

−27.9% cheaper

−27.9% cheaper

−27.9% cheaper

−29.5% cheaper

−29.5% cheaper

−29.5% cheaper

What living in Los Angeles costs

Los Angeles carries a cost index of 1.22x the national baseline, placing it above 93 of the 99 metros tracked and below 5. Rent runs about $2,300 monthly; the median home is near $950,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 34, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Los Angeles is a metro of roughly 12.9M and roughly flat, running on entertainment/media, international trade & logistics, aerospace. Larger employers include Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Kaiser Permanente.

California taxes income at the state level, and Los Angeles adds no separate city tax. Cost-of-living indexes exclude income tax entirely, so compare after-tax figures rather than index ratios when weighing this metro against one in a no-income-tax state.

Getting around: Los Angeles is served by limited transit. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Mild Mediterranean climate: January lows near 48°F, July highs near 84°F, minimal rainfall most of the year.

No city income tax, but California's top state income tax rate is 13.3% and median home prices exceed $900K, among the highest of any large US metro.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles expensive to live in?▾

Relative to the US average, yes — the cost index is 1.22x, above 93 and below 5 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $2,300 a month and the median home $950,000.

What salary do you need to live comfortably in Los Angeles?▾

A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $2,300 a month implies about $92,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.