City comparison
New York vs Los Angeles Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and Los Angeles (148.5).
New York Index
166.9
Los Angeles Index
148.5
New York Rent
$4,850
Los Angeles Rent
$4,025
New York Home price
$787,000
Los Angeles Home price
$730,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Los Angeles.
Equivalent salary in Los Angeles
$127,235
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York and Los Angeles.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | New York | Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 208 | -37.0 (-15.1%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 123 | -15.0 (-10.9%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 118 | -3.0 (-2.5%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 111 | -6.0 (-5.1%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 109 | -3.0 (-2.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 121 | -13.0 (-9.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $7,070
New York / Los Angeles
Couple
$13,620 / $11,740
New York / Los Angeles
Family
$19,870 / $16,540
New York / Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
View Los Angeles city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Los Angeles.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.