Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 25% 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 $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 2% higher in Raleigh, NC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,301
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,323
+22% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,462
+32% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,715
+31% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$377,800
+57% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$82,424
+3% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$51,990
+7% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.7 yr
+2.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
51.2%
+14.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
52.9%
+15.1 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
31.1 min
23.4 min
+7.7 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.3
491.5
+33% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.4
2,838.4
+89% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+6.4°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
46.0 in
+24.8 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.86/gal
+28% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
15.1
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$27.56
+33% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC
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 / NC)
7.25%
4.75%
+2.5 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.99%
+9.3 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Raleigh?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% 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 Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Raleigh?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).