Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 45% 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 $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 36% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$877
+40% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$948
+44% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,073
+50% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,281
+49% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$157,100
+82% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$51,211
+36% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$46,890
+16% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.3 yr
+2.6 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
46.0%
+9.7 pp in Memphis, TN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
28.2%
+9.6 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
21.3 min
+9.8 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
2,507.5
+243% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
1,501.2
6,965.8
+364% in Memphis, TN

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
63.1°F
+3.9°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
53.7 in
+32.4 in in Memphis, TN

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 MATA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
15.1
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$15.54
+25% 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 / TN)
7.25%
7%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Memphis?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% 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 Memphis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Memphis?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).