Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,040 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 19% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$786
+46% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$877
+48% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,096
+49% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,299
+48% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$221,500
+75% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$64,731
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$48,370
+13% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
37.7 yr
+0.8 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
36.3%
60.6%
+24.3 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
33.4%
+4.4 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
22.7 min
+8.4 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
761.5
+4% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
1,501.2
3,535.4
+136% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.0°F
58.2°F
+8.8°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
44.9 in
+23.7 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.35/gal
+26% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.9
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$19.12
+8% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Los Angeles, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / KY)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.50%
+9.8 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Louisville?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Louisville?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).