Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 31% higher in Los Angeles, CA. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$802
$1,468
+83% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,688
+65% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$2,148
+85% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$2,489
+86% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$879,500
+261% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$80,366
+44% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$55,850
+20% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
36.9 yr
+8.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
47.3%
36.3%
+11.0 pp in Columbia, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
37.8%
+8.3 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
31.1 min
+13.7 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
730.3
+5% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
1,501.4
+54% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
67.0°F
+2.1°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
21.2 in
+24.2 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.53/gal
+41% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
34.7
+123% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$20.33
+30% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Columbia, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
13.30%
+7.3 pp in CA

Columbia vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Los Angeles?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Los Angeles?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).