Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 47% 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 $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 32% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$795
+46% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$891
+47% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,146
+47% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,520
+39% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$242,200
+72% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$54,546
+32% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$47,760
+14% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.6 yr
+2.3 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
51.7%
+15.4 pp in Tucson, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
30.2%
+7.6 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
22.2 min
+8.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
645.8
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.2
3,460
+130% in Tucson, AZ

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
70.2°F
+3.2°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
11.6 in
+9.6 in in Los Angeles, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$5.57/gal
+5% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
15.6
+53% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$19.69
+5% 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 / AZ)
7.25%
5.6%
+1.7 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.50%
+10.8 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% 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 Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Tucson?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).