Median rent is 35% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,905/mo). Buying is cheaper in Los Angeles, where the median home runs $879,500 versus $1,289,400. Households earn more in Fremont ($176,350 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Fremont, CA
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Fremont, CA?
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
Fremont
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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Los Angeles — median rent of $1,879/mo versus $2,905/mo in Fremont, a 35% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Fremont: the median home is $1,289,400 versus $879,500 in Los Angeles — 32% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 13.30% in California, so Los Angeles is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 7.25% in California; Los Angeles has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Fremont
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Fremont has cleaner air on average: 40.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Fremont if you prioritize higher median household income ($176,350/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Fremont if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 40.0).
Is Fremont cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fremont vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $2,905/mo in Fremont, CA and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 35%.
Which has higher salaries — Fremont or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $176,350 in Fremont, CA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Fremont, 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?
Fremont, CA has better air quality on average: 40.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Fremont or Los Angeles?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and California's is 13.30%. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Fremont 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