Cost of living in Los Angeles, CA
Livability score 42 · cost-of-living index 114.7 (US = 100)
How Los Angeles compares
Where Los Angeles falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Map of Los Angeles
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Cost of living
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 114.7 | metro-area | #199 of 200 |
| Grocery index (US=100) | 107.1 | metro-area | #196 of 200 |
| Big Mac price (est.) | $6.53 | metro-area | #199 of 200 |
| Median household income | $89,105 | metro-area | #35 of 200 |
| Median wage (all occupations) | $42,463 | metro-area | #69 of 200 |
Who lives here
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 years | metro-area | #90 of 200 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 37.4% | metro-area | #62 of 200 |
| Foreign-born residents | 32.5% | metro-area | #3 of 200 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 48.6% | metro-area | #200 of 200 |
Economy
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.59% | metro-area | #174 of 200 |
| Population growth (5-yr) | -1.1% | metro-area | #183 of 200 |
Housing — what your money buys
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $968,608 | metro-area | #196 of 200 |
| Home price ÷ income (affordability) | 10.9× | metro-area | #196 of 200 |
| 1-yr home appreciation | +0.3% | metro-area | #130 of 200 |
| Price per square foot | $646 | metro-area | #196 of 200 |
| Typical home size (implied) | 1,500 sqft | ||
| Median rent (monthly) | $2,909 | metro-area | #191 of 200 |
| Homes for sale (inventory) | 24,355 | ||
| Median days on market | 19 | metro-area | #108 of 200 |
Taxes
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tax burden (est. % of income) | 13.5% | state | #169 of 200 |
| Combined sales tax | 8.82% | state | #150 of 200 |
| State income tax (top rate) | 13.30% | ||
| Capital gains tax | 13.30% | state | #180 of 200 |
| High earners | 1% Mental Health Services surtax on income over $1M (13.3% top rate) | ||
| Social Security in retirement | Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits | ||
| Effective property tax rate | 0.69% | metro-area | #51 of 200 |
| Median property tax paid | $5,321 | metro-area | #183 of 200 |
Health & childcare
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.9 years | metro-area | #24 of 200 |
| Healthcare (annual, single adult) | $7,200 | state | #139 of 200 |
| Uninsured (share of residents) | 8.9% | metro-area | #109 of 200 |
| Primary care providers per 100k | 81 | metro-area | #73 of 200 |
| Childcare (annual, infant, center) | $19,000 | state | #178 of 200 |
Vehicles & commute
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual registration | $300 | state | #174 of 200 |
| Vehicle property tax (annual) | 0.65% of value (~$182/yr) | state | #115 of 200 |
| Emissions testing | Required | ||
| Emissions detail | Smog check every 2 years in most counties | ||
| DMV & license offices | 34 | ||
| Avg commute to work | 30 min | metro-area | #183 of 200 |
| Commute by driving alone | 67.1% | metro-area | #24 of 200 |
| Solo drivers commuting 30+ min | 46.7% | metro-area | #190 of 200 |
Utilities & fuel
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 35.3¢/kWh | state | #181 of 200 |
| Avg monthly electric bill | $317 | state | #181 of 200 |
| Gasoline | $4.85/gal | state | #182 of 200 |
| Natural gas (avg monthly bill) | $72 | state | #100 of 200 |
| Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) | $138 | state | #159 of 200 |
| Home internet (avg monthly bill) | $83 | state | #135 of 200 |
Insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home insurance (annual) | $1,500 | state | #51 of 200 |
| Auto insurance (annual) | $2,400 | state | #154 of 200 |
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main natural hazards | Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. | ||
| FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) | 100.0 — Very High | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
| Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) | $750 | state | #90 of 200 |
| Earthquake insurance (annual) | $950 | state | #182 of 200 |
Climate & air quality
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) | 80 | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
| Cooling degree-days (AC load) | 1,000 | metro-area | #78 of 200 |
| Homes with air conditioning (state) | 72% | state | #171 of 200 |
| Heating degree-days (heat load) | 2,200 | metro-area | #51 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 90°F | 21 | metro-area | #86 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 100°F | 1 | metro-area | #105 of 200 |
| Avg summer high (state) | 84°F | metro-area | #37 of 200 |
| Avg winter low | 45°F | metro-area | #20 of 200 |
| Annual precipitation | 14.3" | metro-area | #20 of 200 |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | metro-area | #1 of 200 |
| Sunshine (% of possible) | 73% | metro-area | #18 of 200 |
| Plant hardiness zone | 9b | ||
| Frost window | 01-31 → 12-31 |
Safety
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) | 500 | state | #161 of 200 |
| Property crime (per 100k, state avg) | 2,330 | state | #112 of 200 |
Local amenities & recreation
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 132 | metro-area | #3 of 200 |
| Parks | 111 | ||
| Hiking areas | 39 | ||
| Golf courses | 58 | ||
| Shooting ranges | 9 | ||
| Lakes | 19 |
Permits
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit difficulty (1–5) | 5 | state | #165 of 200 |
| Permit detail | Very difficult; CEQA + local review, esp. SF/coastal |
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Los Angeles
Major public and private employers in the Los Angeles, CA area.
Salaries by occupation in Los Angeles
Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
| Occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Lawyers | $194,020 |
| Financial Managers | $168,340 |
| Marketing Managers | $165,030 |
| Physician Assistants | $160,340 |
| Dentists | $158,570 |
| Human Resources Managers | $156,710 |
| Pharmacists | $154,390 |
| Software Developers | $153,560 |
| Registered Nurses | $129,000 |
| Construction Managers | $128,090 |
| Data Scientists | $124,810 |
| Dental Hygienists | $120,640 |
| General & Operations Managers | $118,920 |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $113,460 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $104,990 |
| Physical Therapists | $103,930 |
| Civil Engineers | $100,480 |
| Web Developers | $100,120 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $95,880 |
| Accountants & Auditors | $85,540 |
| Electricians | $78,590 |
| Graphic Designers | $74,050 |
| Carpenters | $65,190 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters | $62,730 |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,610 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $57,180 |
| Welders, Cutters & Solderers | $54,990 |
| Medical Assistants | $44,740 |
Find a job in Los Angeles
Cities in the Los Angeles area
Los Angeles (3,881,041) →Long Beach (462,293) →Anaheim (347,111) →Santa Ana (311,379) →Irvine (304,527) →Santa Clarita (225,850) →Huntington Beach (197,481) →Glendale (194,512) →Garden Grove (171,637) →Lancaster (171,465) →Palmdale (166,895) →Pomona (149,831) →Torrance (145,454) →Fullerton (142,280) →Orange (138,728) →Pasadena (137,554) →East Los Angeles (117,222) →Downey (113,052) →Costa Mesa (111,490) →El Monte (108,682) →West Covina (108,173) →Inglewood (106,806) →Burbank (106,389) →Norwalk (101,893) →Compton (94,822) →Carson (94,475) →Mission Viejo (93,233) →South Gate (92,381) →Santa Monica (92,168) →Westminster (90,638) →Hawthorne (86,978) →Whittier (86,459) →Lake Forest (85,583) →Newport Beach (85,159) →Buena Park (83,542) →Alhambra (82,295) →Lakewood (81,499) →Tustin (79,514) →Bellflower (78,352) →Baldwin Park (71,692) →Redondo Beach (70,620) →Yorba Linda (68,035) →Lynwood (66,346) →Laguna Niguel (64,259) →San Clemente (64,232) →Florence-Graham (63,132) →La Habra (62,904) →Montebello (62,056) →Pico Rivera (61,561) →Monterey Park (60,386) →Gardena (60,377) →South Whittier (57,383) →Fountain Valley (56,754) →Arcadia (56,181) →Hacienda Heights (55,461) →Huntington Park (54,547) →Diamond Bar (54,534) →Paramount (53,255) →Glendora (52,095) →Aliso Viejo (51,896) →Placentia (51,797) →Rosemead (51,043) →Covina (50,717) →Cypress (49,955) →Azusa (49,704) →Cerritos (49,016) →Rancho Santa Margarita (47,702) →La Mirada (47,644) →Rowland Heights (47,209) →Brea (47,099) →Altadena (42,719) →Rancho Palos Verdes (41,805) →Culver City (40,357) →Bell Gardens (39,263) →San Gabriel (39,211) →Stanton (38,271) →La Puente (37,835) →Monrovia (37,656) →Claremont (36,891) →Temple City (36,165) →West Hollywood (35,358) →Westmont (35,345) →Manhattan Beach (35,123) →San Juan Capistrano (35,099) →San Dimas (34,466) →Bell (33,377) →Dana Point (33,025) →Beverly Hills (32,406) →Lawndale (31,553) →La Verne (31,239) →Laguna Hills (31,170) →Walnut (28,212) →South Pasadena (26,583) →West Whittier-Los Nietos (25,442) →North Tustin (25,131) →Seal Beach (25,046) →Maywood (25,009) →Ladera Ranch (24,323) →San Fernando (23,958) →Calabasas (23,106) →Laguna Beach (22,943) →Cudahy (22,657) →East San Gabriel (22,654) →Willowbrook (22,491) →West Carson (22,240) →West Rancho Dominguez (22,141) →West Puente Valley (22,074) →Valinda (21,952) →Duarte (21,686) →Lennox (20,687) →Lomita (20,662) →Stevenson Ranch (20,484) →La Cañada Flintridge (20,378) →La Crescenta-Montrose (20,092) →Agoura Hills (20,088) →South El Monte (19,694) →Hermosa Beach (19,551) →Santa Fe Springs (18,840) →South San Jose Hills (18,717) →Castaic (18,643) →Laguna Woods (17,452) →El Segundo (17,081) →Artesia (16,237) →Walnut Park (16,209) →Coto de Caza (15,632) →La Palma (15,522) →Vincent (15,266) →East Rancho Dominguez (14,924) →Hawaiian Gardens (14,011) →Avocado Heights (13,470) →Palos Verdes Estates (13,219) →Lake Los Angeles (13,097) →San Marino (12,442) →Commerce (12,253) →View Park-Windsor Hills (11,999) →Rossmoor (11,742) →Los Alamitos (11,728) →Signal Hill (11,678) →Sun Village (11,472) →Sierra Madre (11,151) →Citrus (10,979) →Del Aire (10,756) →Malibu (10,698) →Rancho Mission Viejo (10,697) →Marina del Rey (10,274) →East Whittier (10,248) →Quartz Hill (10,089) →
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