Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Newark, DE is roughly 20% 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 $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 11% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,649
+12% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,391
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,513
+30% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,916
+23% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$357,600
+59% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$71,373
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$54,310
+3% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
22.0 yr
+14.9 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
50.3%
+14.0 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
57.5%
+19.7 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
31.1 min
19.6 min
+11.5 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.3
326.3
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.4
2,024.6
+35% in Newark, DE

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
54.9°F
+12.1°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
43.1 in
+21.8 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
19.3
+44% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$29.73
+46% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / DE)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.60%
+6.7 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Newark?
Newark, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Newark?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).