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Cost of living · head to head

New York, NY is approximately 1% cheaper than Los Angeles, CA, using Los Angeles, CA as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
New York, NYoverall index
112.6
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Los Angeles, CA
A salary of $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA has approximately the same purchasing power as $99,120 in New York, NY, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY cost about the same overall, so $100,000 would go roughly as far in either place — your day-to-day spending shouldn’t feel noticeably different.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 1%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in New York, NY run 13% lower than in Los Angeles, CA (148.6 vs 170.4), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryLos Angeles, CANew York, NYDifference
Overall113.6112.6-1%
Goods106.6110.3+3%
Housing rents170.4148.6-13%
Utilities158.6127.0-20%
Other services104.4105.8+1%

New York, NY differs from Los Angeles, CA the most in utilities — about 20% lower in New York, NY — while the closest is other services.

Estimated salary equivalent in New York, NY

$50,000 in Los Angeles, CA$49,560
$75,000 in Los Angeles, CA$74,340
$100,000 in Los Angeles, CA$99,120
$150,000 in Los Angeles, CA$148,680
$200,000 in Los Angeles, CA$198,239

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in New York, NY, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Los Angeles, CA.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is New York, NY cheaper than Los Angeles, CA?

Yes — New York, NY has an overall cost-of-living index of 112.6 versus 113.6 for Los Angeles, CA, making it about 1% cheaper.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA if you moved to New York, NY?

About $99,120, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Los Angeles, CA has approximately the same purchasing power as $99,120 in New York, NY. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in New York, NY than in Los Angeles, CA?

Housing rents in New York, NY score 148.6 versus 170.4 in Los Angeles, CA — about 13% cheaper. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY?

Overall, New York, NY is about 1% cheaper than Los Angeles, CA (index 112.6 vs 113.6), with housing 13% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.