Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 21% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$1,468
+45% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,688
+56% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$2,148
+52% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$2,489
+49% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$879,500
+102% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$80,366
+26% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$55,850
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
36.9 yr
+1.5 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
47.6%
36.3%
+11.3 pp in Eugene, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
37.8%
+6.4 pp in Eugene, OR
Avg Commute
18.6 min
31.1 min
+12.5 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
730.3
+129% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
3,348.9
1,501.4
+55% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
67.0°F
+14.5°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
21.2 in
+24.9 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.40/gal
+6% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
33.3
+104% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$20.72
+1% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
13.30%
+3.4 pp in CA

Eugene vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Los Angeles?
Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Los Angeles?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).