City profile
Los Angeles, CA cost of living
CA · BLS RPP 113.1
Latest official changes
Updates affecting Los Angeles, CA
Existing city metrics remain tied to the current verified ReloMath dataset until the owner flips the new data vintage. Use these rows as dated official-source change receipts.
Overall RPP
113.1
US = 100
Housing RPP
177
Housing component
Goods RPP
106.3
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$2,544/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Los Angeles, CA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#5 of 67
+13.1 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+14.7
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#7 of 67
+938/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Los Angeles, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Los Angeles, CA metro.
Moved in
277,363
people · 183,913 households
Moved out
424,652
people · 251,847 households
Net
−147,289
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#64 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-147,185
median -104 people
Largest flow share
9% in / 11% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- San Bernardino County, CA 24,282
- Riverside County, CA 20,684
- San Diego County, CA 12,014
- Ventura County, CA 7,653
- Clark County, NV 6,548
Where residents moved to
- San Bernardino County, CA 46,593
- Riverside County, CA 43,467
- Clark County, NV 15,746
- San Diego County, CA 15,670
- Ventura County, CA 12,638
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Los Angeles, CA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Los Angeles, CA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $56,550 | $50,000 x (113.1/100) |
| $75,000 | $84,825 | $75,000 x (113.1/100) |
| $100,000 | $113,100 | $100,000 x (113.1/100) |
| $125,000 | $141,375 | $125,000 x (113.1/100) |
| $150,000 | $169,650 | $150,000 x (113.1/100) |
| $200,000 | $226,200 | $200,000 x (113.1/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
California income tax 1%-13.3%. No city income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Los Angeles, CA?
- Los Angeles, CA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 113.1 (US average = 100). It is 13.1% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Los Angeles, CA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $113,100 in Los Angeles, CA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Los Angeles, CA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is approximately $2,544 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Los Angeles, CA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 277,363 people moved into the Los Angeles, CA metro and 424,652 moved out — a net loss of roughly 147,289 residents. The largest single source of new residents was San Bernardino County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Los Angeles, CA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Los Angeles, CA
Side-by-side cost of living and the equivalent salary you'd need — pick a destination.