Living Cost Compare
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 22% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,468
+108% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$730
$1,688
+131% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$956
$2,148
+125% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,287
$2,489
+93% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$191,500
$879,500
+359% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,546
$80,366
+28% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,940
$55,850
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.9 yr
+1.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
55.9%
36.3%
+19.6 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.5%
37.8%
+12.3 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
18.9 min
31.1 min
+12.2 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
501.7
730.3
+46% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,331.2
1,501.4
+13% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.3°F
67.0°F
+22.7°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
29.5 in
21.2 in
+8.3 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
33.3
+68% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$20.72
+76% in Los Angeles, CA

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 Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Green Bay, WI
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 (WI / CA)
5%
7.25%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
13.30%
+5.7 pp in CA

Green Bay vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Los Angeles?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Los Angeles?
Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).