Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 19% 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.

Columbus, OH
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,468
+45% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,688
+59% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$2,148
+68% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$2,489
+82% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$879,500
+275% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$80,366
+23% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$55,850
+9% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
36.9 yr
+3.9 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
44.3%
36.3%
+8.0 pp in Columbus, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
37.8%
+0.4 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
31.1 min
+9.3 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
484.8
730.5
+51% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
3,092.7
1,501.2
+51% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
67.0°F
+14.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
21.2 in
+18.9 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.56/gal
$5.89/gal
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Ohio vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.75
+13% in Columbus, OH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
33.4
+78% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.75
$20.72
+51% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% 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

Columbus vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Los Angeles?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% 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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Los Angeles?
Columbus 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).