Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA 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 $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 4% higher in Tacoma, 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
Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,178
+20% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,332
+21% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,693
+21% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$2,094
+16% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$454,600
+48% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$83,857
+4% in Tacoma, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$72,610
+30% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
37.3 yr
+0.4 yr in Tacoma, WA
Homeownership
36.3%
56.5%
+20.2 pp in Tacoma, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
33.5%
+4.3 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
29.0 min
+2.1 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.3
1,064.4
+46% in Tacoma, WA
Property Crime
1,501.4
5,695.2
+279% in Tacoma, 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
52.1°F
+14.9°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
43.0 in
+21.8 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$5.12/gal
+5% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
14.9
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$20.41
+1% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
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 Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Tacoma?
Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (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 Tacoma?
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 Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Tacoma?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Tacoma 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).