What is the cost of living in Los Angeles, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Los Angeles has an overall cost of living index of 179, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Los Angeles has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Los Angeles ranks as #467 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Los Angeles ranks as the #167 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Los Angeles, check out:
Los Angeles Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Los Angeles. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Los Angeles is 117.
The Groceries index in Los Angeles is 123.
The Health index in Los Angeles is 309.
The Housing index in Los Angeles is 128.
The Transportation index in Los Angeles is 128.
The Utilities index in Los Angeles is 134.
| Living Expense | Los Angeles | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 179 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 117 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 123 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 309 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 128 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 128 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 134 | 121 | 100 |
Los Angeles Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Los Angeles Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Los Angeles, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Los Angeles is $952,183.
The Median Rent in Los Angeles is $1,933.
The Median Income in Los Angeles is $81,939.
The Home Value To Income in Los Angeles is 11.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Los Angeles is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Los Angeles | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $952,183 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,933 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,939 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Los Angeles, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Los Angeles Services costs vs. California
| Item | Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Los Angeles Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Los Angeles Health costs vs. California
| Item | Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Los Angeles Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Los Angeles Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Los Angeles SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Los Angeles
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Los Angeles. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 1.1x Los Angeles.
Inglewood, CA has a cost of living index of 160, 0.9x Los Angeles.
Santa Monica, CA has a cost of living index of 274, 1.5x Los Angeles.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 1.1x |
| Inglewood, CA | 104,569 | 160 | 0.9x |
| Santa Monica, CA | 91,169 | 274 | 1.5x |
| Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | 213 | 1.2x |
| Altadena, CA | 41,705 | 191 | 1.1x |
| Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 40,864 | 243 | 1.4x |
| West Hollywood, CA | 34,884 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Beverly Hills, CA | 31,624 | 338 | 1.9x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 1.3x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 0.8x |
