Median rent is 28% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,616/mo). Buying is cheaper in Lake Forest, where the median home runs $876,300 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Lake Forest ($131,378 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Lake Forest, CA
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Lake Forest, 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
Lake Forest
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 $2,616/mo in Lake Forest, a 28% difference. Median home values are within 0% of each other: $876,300 in Lake Forest and $879,500 in Los Angeles.
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).
Lake Forest
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
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 Lake Forest.
Pick Lake Forest if you prioritize higher median household income ($131,378/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Is Lake Forest cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Lake Forest vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $2,616/mo in Lake Forest, CA and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 28%.
Which has higher salaries — Lake Forest or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $131,378 in Lake Forest, CA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Lake Forest, 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 — Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest 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