Median rent is 17% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,269/mo). Buying is cheaper in Palm Beach Gardens, where the median home runs $554,300 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Palm Beach Gardens ($110,563 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
How much would you need to earn in Palm Beach Gardens, FL 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
Palm Beach Gardens
Florida
👥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 Los Angeles at $1,879/mo compared to $2,269/mo in Palm Beach Gardens (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $554,300 in Palm Beach Gardens — 37% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Florida has no state income tax, while California tops out at 13.30% — giving Palm Beach Gardens a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.00% in Florida; Palm Beach Gardens has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Palm Beach Gardens
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Palm Beach Gardens.
Pick Palm Beach Gardens if you prioritize higher median household income ($110,563/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Palm Beach Gardens if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Palm Beach Gardens?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Palm Beach Gardens?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,269/mo in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 17%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Palm Beach Gardens?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $110,563 in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Palm Beach Gardens, FL 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 Palm Beach Gardens?
Florida has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Palm Beach Gardens 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