Median rent is 11% lower in Los Angeles ($1,933/mo vs $2,175/mo). Buying is cheaper in Anaheim, where the median home runs $831,200 versus $921,200. Households earn more in Anaheim ($95,227 vs $81,939 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (114.7).
City A
Anaheim, CA
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Anaheim, CA?
Equivalent salary in Los Angeles, CA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Anaheim
California
Los Angeles
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Los Angeles at $1,933/mo compared to $2,175/mo in Anaheim (11% gap). Median home values are within 10% of each other: $831,200 in Anaheim and $921,200 in Los Angeles.
Metric
Anaheim
Los Angeles
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Anaheim
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Los Angeles
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Los Angeles has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 35.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Anaheim if you prioritize higher median household income ($95,227/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,933/mo median).
Anaheim is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 114.7 versus 114.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Anaheim.
Median rent is $2,175/mo in Anaheim, CA and $1,933/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 11%.
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim, CA and $81,939 in Los Angeles, CA. Anaheim, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Los Angeles, CA has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 35.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Anaheim, CA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
