Median rent is 49% lower in Cleveland ($966/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Cleveland, where the median home runs $241,800 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $55,904 a year).
City A
Cleveland, TN
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Cleveland, TN?
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
Cleveland
Tennessee
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Cleveland — median rent of $966/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 49% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $241,800 in Cleveland — 73% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Tennessee has no state income tax, while California tops out at 13.30% — giving Cleveland a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 7.00% in Tennessee and 7.25% in California; Cleveland has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Cleveland
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 7.00%
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 Cleveland.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Cleveland if you prioritize cheaper rent ($966/mo median).
Pick Cleveland if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Cleveland cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Cleveland vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $966/mo in Cleveland, TN and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Cleveland, TN has the lower rent by about 49%.
Which has higher salaries — Cleveland or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $55,904 in Cleveland, TN and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA 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 — Cleveland or Los Angeles?
Tennessee has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Cleveland 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