Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 30% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$826
$1,468
+78% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$875
$1,688
+93% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$991
$2,148
+117% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$2,489
+104% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$879,500
+382% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$80,366
+42% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$55,850
+28% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
36.9 yr
+1.8 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
50.2%
36.3%
+13.9 pp in Columbus, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
37.8%
+8.1 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
20.2 min
31.1 min
+10.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
730.3
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
2,273.4
1,501.4
+34% in Columbus, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.7°F
67.0°F
+1.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
21.2 in
+25.5 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.40/gal
+40% 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)
15.8
33.3
+110% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$20.72
+38% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA
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 (GA / CA)
4%
7.25%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
13.30%
+8.1 pp in CA

Columbus vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Los Angeles?
Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Los Angeles?
Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).