Cost of living index
Los Angeles, CA
113.6 / 100
Living in Los Angeles, CA is 13.6% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
113.6
Housing / rent
170.4
vs US average
+13.6%
What it costs to live in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA has an overall price level of 113.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 13.6% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 170.4 it is 70.4% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Compare Los Angeles, CA with
New York, NYChicago, ILDallas, TXHouston, TXWashington, DCPhiladelphia, PAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhoenix, AZBoston, MARiverside, CA
Common questions
Is Los Angeles, CA an expensive place to live?
Los Angeles, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 113.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 13.6% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Los Angeles, CA?
Housing in Los Angeles, CA scores 170.4 against a US average of 100 — roughly 70.4% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Los Angeles, CA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Los Angeles, CA sit at 113.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 170.4. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.