Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 36% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$791
$1,468
+86% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,688
+107% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$2,148
+110% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$2,489
+103% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$879,500
+308% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$80,366
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$55,850
+11% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
36.9 yr
+3.9 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
38.9%
36.3%
+2.6 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
37.8%
+3.5 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
31.1 min
+8.0 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
730.3
+15% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
1,501.4
+61% in Cincinnati, OH

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
67.0°F
+12.7°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
21.2 in
+20.7 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$5.40/gal
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Ohio vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs LA Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
33.3
+70% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$20.72
+9% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cincinnati, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Los Angeles, CA

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / CA)
5.75%
7.25%
+1.5 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
13.30%
+10.6 pp in CA

Cincinnati vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Los Angeles?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Los Angeles?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).