Median rent is 14% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,192/mo). Buying is cheaper in Royal Palm Beach, where the median home runs $389,300 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Royal Palm Beach ($92,382 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Royal Palm Beach, FL
How much would you need to earn in Royal Palm Beach, 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
Royal Palm Beach
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 $2,192/mo in Royal Palm Beach (14% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $389,300 in Royal Palm Beach — 56% 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 Royal Palm Beach a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.00% in Florida; Royal Palm Beach has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Royal Palm Beach
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Royal Palm Beach.
Pick Royal Palm Beach if you prioritize higher median household income ($92,382/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Royal Palm Beach if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Royal Palm Beach?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Royal Palm Beach?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,192/mo in Royal Palm Beach, FL. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 14%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Royal Palm Beach?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $92,382 in Royal Palm Beach, FL. Royal Palm Beach, 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 Royal Palm Beach?
Florida has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Royal Palm Beach 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