Median rent is 1% lower in San Tan Valley ($1,857/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Tan Valley, where the median home runs $365,900 versus $879,500. Households earn more in San Tan Valley ($93,642 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
San Tan Valley, AZ
How much would you need to earn in San Tan Valley, AZ 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 Tan Valley
Arizona
👥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 $1,857/mo in San Tan Valley. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $365,900 in San Tan Valley — 58% 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 2.50% in Arizona, so San Tan Valley is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 5.60% in Arizona; San Tan Valley has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
San Tan Valley
Income tax: 2.50%
Sales tax: 5.60%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for San Tan Valley.
Pick San Tan Valley if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,642/yr).
Pick San Tan Valley if you prioritize lower state income tax (2.50%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than San Tan Valley?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs San Tan Valley?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,857/mo in San Tan Valley, AZ. San Tan Valley, AZ has the lower rent by about 1%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or San Tan Valley?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $93,642 in San Tan Valley, AZ. San Tan Valley, AZ 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 Tan Valley?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Arizona's is 2.50%. San Tan Valley, AZ has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in San Tan Valley 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