Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA
| Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 19% higher | 140% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 9% lower | 11% higher |
| Food | 5% lower | 11% higher |
| Healthcare | 2% higher | 12% higher |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 28% higher |
| Goods & Services | 6% higher | 16% higher |
The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 8% higher than the state average and 51% higher than the national average. Los Angeles, CA housing is 140% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 11% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 16% more in Los Angeles, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 16% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 12% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 16% pricier in Los Angeles, CA.
Housing (Buy and Rent)
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Los Angeles is $2,781, while home prices circle around $1,098,874.
Utilities (Monthly)
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Los Angeles, energy bills cost around $208.33 per month.
Food
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $2.76 in Los Angeles, a dozen eggs go for around $3.66 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.16.
Healthcare
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Los Angeles, an optometry check-up costs around $132.27, while a dentist appointment is priced $128.20 on average.
Transportation
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $5.54 in Los Angeles, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $56.00.
Goods & Services
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $36.49 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $42.49.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Los Angeles, you should budget around $17.18 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.39, while dry cleaning costs about $20.52.
Income
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Los Angeles, the median household income is $69,778.