Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA scores 148 on the cost-of-living index — about 48% more expensive than the US average of 100, and #8 of 77 US cities we track.
Compare your salary: Los Angeles vs any US city
Enter where you live now and what you earn — see the equivalent salary needed in Los Angeles to keep the same standard of living.
To live the way $100,000 affords in Los Angeles, CA, you would need about $126,351 in New York City, NY — roughly 26.4% more.
| Category | Los Angeles | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index | 148 | 187 | +26% |
| Housing | 203 | 287 | +41% |
| Groceries | 120 | 137 | +14% |
| Utilities | 126 | 130 | +3% |
| Transportation | 138 | 120 | −13% |
| Healthcare | 115 | 128 | +11% |
Los Angeles cost-of-living breakdown
| Category | Index | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 148 | +48% |
| Housing | 203 | +103% |
| Groceries | 120 | +20% |
| Utilities | 126 | +26% |
| Transportation | 138 | +38% |
| Healthcare | 115 | +15% |
Note These are approximate comparative estimates on a US-average = 100 scale (the C2ER/ACCRA and BestPlaces convention). Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle — treat the numbers as directional.
Frequently asked questions
Is Los Angeles expensive to live in?
Los Angeles, CA has a cost-of-living index of 148, where the US average is 100. That makes it about 48% more expensive than a typical US city, and ranks it #8 of 77 cities in our index. Housing is the biggest single factor, with a housing index of 203.
What is the cost-of-living index for Los Angeles?
The overall index is 148 (US average = 100). By category: housing 203, groceries 120, utilities 126, transportation 138 and healthcare 115. A value above 100 means costlier than average; below 100 means cheaper.
How much salary do I need to live in Los Angeles?
It depends on where you're moving from. Use the calculator above: enter your current city and salary, and it scales your pay by the ratio of the two cities' indices to show the equivalent salary needed in Los Angeles to keep the same standard of living.
How is the Los Angeles cost-of-living index calculated?
It is a comparative estimate on the same US-average = 100 scale used by the C2ER/ACCRA Cost of Living Index and BestPlaces, spanning housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. These are approximate estimates — actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle.
Which is the cheapest category in Los Angeles?
In Los Angeles, healthcare is the most affordable category relative to the US average (index 115), while housing is the priciest (index 203).