Is Los Angeles expensive to live in?

Los Angeles is among the most expensive of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,688 per month ranks #8 of 50 and is 38% higher than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Los Angeles?

Average rent in Los Angeles, CA runs a studio around $1,468, a one-bedroom around $1,688, a two-bedroom around $2,148, a three-bedroom around $2,489 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,688 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year. The median household income here is $80,366.

How much does it cost to live in Los Angeles per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Los Angeles is about $2,010 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Green palm trees near city buildings during daytime — Los Angeles, CA

Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA

Population 3,898,747 · California

~$2,010/mo est.1BR $1,688Home $879,500

Photo: Venti Views / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,688 a month — 38% higher than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,468 and two-bedrooms $2,148.

Median household income here is $80,366, 6% higher than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $2,010 before food and transport. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,688

Studio

$1,468

1 Bedroom

$1,688

2 Bedroom

$2,148

3 Bedroom

$2,489

Buying a Home$879,500

Median Home Value

$879,500

Income$80,366

Median Household Income

$80,366

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,850

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities33.4¢/kWh

Electricity

33.4¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$20.72/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.89/gal

Regular Gasoline (Los Angeles)

$5.89/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.75

Base Fare (LA Metro)

$1.75

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (CA)7.25% sales

State Sales Tax

7.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 13.30%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime730.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

730.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,501.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Los Angeles Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.9 yrs

Median Age

36.9 yrs

Homeownership

36.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.8%

Avg Commute

31.1 min

Climate67.0°F

Avg Annual Temperature

67.0°F

Annual Precipitation

21.2 in

Los Angeles cost of living — FAQ

Is Los Angeles expensive to live in?: Los Angeles is among the most expensive of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,688 per month ranks #8 of 50 and is 38% higher than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Los Angeles?: Average rent in Los Angeles, CA runs a studio around $1,468, a one-bedroom around $1,688, a two-bedroom around $2,148, a three-bedroom around $2,489 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,688 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year. The median household income here is $80,366.
How much does it cost to live in Los Angeles per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Los Angeles is about $2,010 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Los Angeles with nearby cities

Los Angeles vs Long Beach Los Angeles vs Anaheim Los Angeles vs Santa Ana Los Angeles vs Bakersfield Los Angeles vs San Diego Los Angeles vs Fresno

Nearby cities

Long Beach, CA 20 mi Anaheim, CA 24 mi Santa Ana, CA 30 mi Bakersfield, CA 101 mi San Diego, CA 111 mi Fresno, CA 205 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.