Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, New York City, NY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 1% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
New York City, NY

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,633
+11% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,705
+1% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,781
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$2,065
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$751,700
+15% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$79,713
+1% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$61,430
+10% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
38.0 yr
+1.1 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
36.3%
32.8%
+3.5 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
41.0%
+3.2 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
31.1 min
40.6 min
+9.5 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
690.9
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.2
2,413.5
+61% in New York City, NY

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
55.0°F
+12.0°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
49.9 in
+28.7 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.44/gal
+25% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$3.00
+71% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
28.6
+14% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.90
+9% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.92
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.90
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.02
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.68
+9% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NY)
7.25%
4%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.90%
+2.4 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or New York City?
New York City, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or New York City?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).