Median rent is 0% lower in Highland Park ($1,925/mo vs $1,933/mo). Buying is cheaper in Highland Park, where the median home runs $607,300 versus $921,200. Households earn more in Highland Park ($168,094 vs $81,939 a year).
City A
Highland Park, IL
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Highland Park, IL?
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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Highland Park
Illinois
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 rents are similar in both cities: $1,925/mo in Highland Park and $1,933/mo in Los Angeles. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $921,200 versus $607,300 in Highland Park — 34% more expensive.
Metric
Highland Park
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.
Highland Park
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Los Angeles
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 31.0) but not yet for Highland Park.
Pick Highland Park if you prioritize higher median household income ($168,094/yr).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,925/mo in Highland Park, IL and $1,933/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Highland Park, IL has the lower rent by about 0%.
Median household income is $168,094 in Highland Park, IL and $81,939 in Los Angeles, CA. Highland Park, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
