Median rent is 24% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,481/mo). Buying is cheaper in Los Angeles, where the median home runs $879,500 versus $907,900. Households earn more in Rancho Santa Margarita ($146,827 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
How much would you need to earn in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 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
Rancho Santa Margarita
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 $2,481/mo in Rancho Santa Margarita, a 24% difference. Median home values are within 3% of each other: $879,500 in Los Angeles and $907,900 in Rancho Santa Margarita.
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 Rancho Santa Margarita is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 7.25% in California; Rancho Santa Margarita has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Rancho Santa Margarita
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Rancho Santa Margarita.
Pick Rancho Santa Margarita if you prioritize higher median household income ($146,827/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Rancho Santa Margarita?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Rancho Santa Margarita?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,481/mo in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 24%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Rancho Santa Margarita?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $146,827 in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Rancho Santa Margarita, 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 — Los Angeles or Rancho Santa Margarita?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and California's is 13.30%. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Rancho Santa Margarita 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