Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Los Angeles, CA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 24% higher in Washington, DC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,763
+20% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,885
+12% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,949
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$2,249
+10% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$724,600
+18% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$106,287
+32% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$71,060
+27% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
41.1%
+4.8 pp in Washington, DC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
63.6%
+25.8 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
31.1 min
30.3 min
+0.8 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.3
936.3
+28% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,501.4
3,627.9
+142% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+8.8°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
39.7 in
+18.5 in in Washington, DC

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
$2.00
+14% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
25.4
+24% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$22.01
+6% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.75%
+2.6 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Washington?
Los Angeles, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Washington?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 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).