Median rent is 6% lower in New York ($1,821/mo vs $1,933/mo). Buying is cheaper in New York, where the median home runs $777,600 versus $921,200. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($81,939 vs $80,483 a year). Taken together, New York is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 112.6 against 114.7 — about 2% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
New York is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 112.6 in New York vs 114.7 in Los Angeles (US national average = 100)
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
New York, NY
How much would you need to earn in New York, NY to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
Equivalent salary in New York, NY
$73,625
You could earn $1,375 less (2% lower) and break even.
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
Los Angeles
California
New York
New York
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 rent is modestly lower in New York at $1,821/mo compared to $1,933/mo in Los Angeles (6% gap). Median home values are within 16% of each other: $921,200 in Los Angeles and $777,600 in New York.
Metric
Los Angeles
New York
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.
Los Angeles
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
New York
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Los Angeles has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 46.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
New York is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 112.6 versus 114.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in New York.
Median rent is $1,933/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,821/mo in New York, NY. New York, NY has the lower rent by about 6%.
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles, CA and $80,483 in New York, NY. Los Angeles, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Los Angeles, CA has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 46.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA is equivalent to roughly $98,166 in New York, NY (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
