California vs New York
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
4%
+3.3 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.90%
+2.4 pp in California
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,705
+1% in New York
Median Home Value
$771,700
$751,700
+3% in California
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$79,713
+5% in California
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
55.0°F
+9.4°F in California
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/New York — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.