Median rent is 17% lower in Katy ($1,602/mo vs $1,933/mo). Buying is cheaper in Katy, where the median home runs $401,700 versus $921,200. Households earn more in Katy ($114,912 vs $81,939 a year).
City A
Katy, TX
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Katy, TX?
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
Katy
Texas
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 Katy at $1,602/mo compared to $1,933/mo in Los Angeles (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $921,200 versus $401,700 in Katy — 56% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Katy
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 Katy.
Pick Katy if you prioritize higher median household income ($114,912/yr).
Pick Katy if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,602/mo median).
Is Katy cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Katy vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $1,602/mo in Katy, TX and $1,933/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Katy, TX has the lower rent by about 17%.
Which has higher salaries — Katy or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $114,912 in Katy, TX and $81,939 in Los Angeles, CA. Katy, TX 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 — Katy or Los Angeles?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Katy income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
