City comparison

Phoenix vs Los Angeles Cost of Living

Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Phoenix (113.5) and Los Angeles (148.5).

Phoenix Index
113.5
Los Angeles Index
148.5
Phoenix Rent
$2,525
Los Angeles Rent
$4,025
Phoenix Home price
$459,000
Los Angeles Home price
$730,000

Salary equivalent calculator

Enter your current salary in Phoenix to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Los Angeles.

Equivalent salary in Los Angeles
$119,062
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Category-by-category differences

Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.

CategoryPhoenixLos AngelesDifference
Housing136208+72.0 (+52.9%)
Groceries101123+22.0 (+21.8%)
Transportation103118+15.0 (+14.6%)
Healthcare98111+13.0 (+13.3%)
Utilities108109+1.0 (+0.9%)
Miscellaneous101121+20.0 (+19.8%)

Budget comparison

Single
$5,160 / $7,070
Phoenix / Los Angeles
Couple
$8,570 / $11,740
Phoenix / Los Angeles
Family
$12,070 / $16,540
Phoenix / Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

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.