Cost of Living

Los Angeles, United States

Live cost-of-living data for Los Angeles — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
93/ 1007% cheaper than New York
$3,834/mo
Median Income
40/100
Safety
25%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
85/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,839/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$2,200/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$6,425/month
Food & Groceries
72/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.6/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$3.2/kg
Transportation
65/100
Monthly Transit Pass$122/month
One-Way Ticket$2/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.5/km
Utilities
65/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$245/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$75/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$65/month
Healthcare
60/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$164/visit
Dentist Visit$133/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$25/course
Education
70/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$25,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$800/course
Entertainment
70/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$15/ticket
Theater Ticket$60/ticket
Museum Entry$20/ticket
Clothing
75/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$85/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$50/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$110/pair
Personal Care
70/100
Haircut (Men)$35/cut
Haircut (Women)$65/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$8/bottle
Dining Out
75/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$16/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$80/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$12/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,600/month
Babysitter (per hour)$20/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$28/pack
Fitness & Sports
70/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$65/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$30/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$12/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

242 Mbps
Internet Speed
$300
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
69/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Venice Beach, Silver Lake, Downtown LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles cheap to live in?

Los Angeles has a cost of living index of 93/100, where New York = 100. It is 7% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $3,320–$4,648 per month.

How much does rent cost in Los Angeles?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Los Angeles costs approximately $2,839/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $2,200/month.

Is Los Angeles good for digital nomads?

Los Angeles has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 242 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $300/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Los Angeles?

The median net monthly salary in Los Angeles is approximately $3,834 USD. The income tax rate is around 25%.

How does Los Angeles compare to New York for cost of living?

Los Angeles (cost index 93) is 7% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $175/month by moving from New York to Los Angeles.

Compare Los Angeles with…

Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Los Angeles wins or loses.

Cities that cost about the same as Los Angeles

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

Or explore:New York

Compare Los Angeles with another city

See exactly how Los Angeles stacks up against your current city or next destination.

Free to start · No credit card needed