Cost of living · head to head
Phoenix, AZ is 9% cheaper than Los Angeles, CA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Try your own salary
in Los Angeles, CA
To live the same in Phoenix, AZ, you’d need about $90,933.
That’s about $9,067 less — Phoenix, AZ is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 9%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Phoenix, AZ runs 29% lower than in Los Angeles, CA (121.2 vs 170.4), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Phoenix, AZ
| $50,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $45,467 |
| $75,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $68,200 |
| $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $90,933 |
| $150,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $136,400 |
| $200,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $181,866 |
Each row shows the salary in Phoenix, AZ that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles, CA · housing
170.4
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Common questions
Is Phoenix, AZ cheaper than Los Angeles, CA?
Yes — Phoenix, AZ has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.3 versus 113.6 for Los Angeles, CA, making it about 9% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Phoenix, AZ to match $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA?
About $90,933. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA costs roughly $90,933 in Phoenix, AZ.
Is housing cheaper in Phoenix, AZ than in Los Angeles, CA?
Housing in Phoenix, AZ scores 121.2 versus 170.4 in Los Angeles, CA — about 29% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ?
Overall, Phoenix, AZ is about 9% cheaper than Los Angeles, CA (index 103.3 vs 113.6), with housing 29% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.