Median rent is 20% lower in Milton ($1,503/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Los Angeles, where the median home runs $879,500 versus $896,500. Households earn more in Milton ($178,053 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Milton, MA
How much would you need to earn in Milton, MA to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, 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
Los Angeles
California
Milton
Massachusetts
👥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 Milton at $1,503/mo compared to $1,879/mo in Los Angeles (20% gap). Median home values are within 2% of each other: $879,500 in Los Angeles and $896,500 in Milton.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 9.00% in Massachusetts, so Milton is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.25% in Massachusetts; Milton has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Milton
Income tax: 9.00%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Milton.
Pick Milton if you prioritize higher median household income ($178,053/yr).
Pick Milton if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,503/mo median).
Pick Milton if you prioritize lower state income tax (9.00%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Milton?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Milton?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,503/mo in Milton, MA. Milton, MA has the lower rent by about 20%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Milton?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $178,053 in Milton, MA. Milton, MA 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 — Los Angeles or Milton?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Massachusetts's is 9.00%. Milton, MA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Milton to match my Los Angeles 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