Median rent is 15% lower in Rochester Hills ($1,606/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Rochester Hills, where the median home runs $377,400 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Rochester Hills ($119,054 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Rochester Hills, MI
How much would you need to earn in Rochester Hills, MI 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
Rochester Hills
Michigan
👥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 Rochester Hills at $1,606/mo compared to $1,879/mo in Los Angeles (15% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $377,400 in Rochester Hills — 57% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 4.25% in Michigan, so Rochester Hills is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.00% in Michigan; Rochester Hills has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Rochester Hills
Income tax: 4.25%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Rochester Hills.
Pick Rochester Hills if you prioritize higher median household income ($119,054/yr).
Pick Rochester Hills if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,606/mo median).
Pick Rochester Hills if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.25%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Rochester Hills?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Rochester Hills?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,606/mo in Rochester Hills, MI. Rochester Hills, MI has the lower rent by about 15%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Rochester Hills?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $119,054 in Rochester Hills, MI. Rochester Hills, MI 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 Rochester Hills?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Michigan's is 4.25%. Rochester Hills, MI has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Rochester Hills 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