Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 34% higher in Seattle, WA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,638
+12% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,858
+10% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$2,359
+10% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$2,918
+17% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$912,100
+4% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$121,984
+52% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$72,610
+30% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
44.2%
+7.9 pp in Seattle, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
67.5%
+29.7 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
26.6 min
+4.5 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
787.3
+8% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,501.2
5,107.9
+240% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+13.5°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
37.7 in
+16.5 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$5.77/gal
+2% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.75
+57% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.4
+57% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$17.32
+16% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / WA)
7.25%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Seattle?
They're close. Los Angeles, CA runs about $2,010 a month and Seattle, WA about $2,020 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Seattle?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).