Median rent is 18% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,295/mo). Buying is cheaper in Bothell, where the median home runs $871,300 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Bothell ($132,232 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Bothell, WA
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Bothell, WA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Bothell
Washington
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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Los Angeles at $1,879/mo compared to $2,295/mo in Bothell (18% gap). Median home values are within 1% of each other: $871,300 in Bothell and $879,500 in Los Angeles.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Washington has no state income tax, while California tops out at 13.30% — giving Bothell a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.50% in Washington and 7.25% in California; Bothell has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Bothell
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.50%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Bothell.
Pick Bothell if you prioritize higher median household income ($132,232/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Bothell if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Bothell cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Bothell vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $2,295/mo in Bothell, WA and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 18%.
Which has higher salaries — Bothell or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $132,232 in Bothell, WA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Bothell, WA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Bothell or Los Angeles?
Washington has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Bothell income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology