Median rent is 1% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $1,906/mo). Buying is cheaper in Los Angeles, where the median home runs $879,500 versus $896,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $66,711 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
San Luis Obispo, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Luis Obispo, 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
San Luis Obispo
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
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,879/mo in Los Angeles and $1,906/mo in San Luis Obispo. Median home values are within 2% of each other: $879,500 in Los Angeles and $896,500 in San Luis Obispo.
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 San Luis Obispo is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 7.25% in California; San Luis Obispo has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
San Luis Obispo
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for San Luis Obispo.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than San Luis Obispo?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs San Luis Obispo?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,906/mo in San Luis Obispo, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 1%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or San Luis Obispo?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $66,711 in San Luis Obispo, CA. Los Angeles, 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 San Luis Obispo?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and California's is 13.30%. San Luis Obispo, CA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in San Luis Obispo 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