Median rent is 24% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,486/mo). Buying is cheaper in Santa Clarita, where the median home runs $721,000 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Santa Clarita ($119,926 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Santa Clarita, CA
How much would you need to earn in Santa Clarita, 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
Santa Clarita
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 $2,486/mo in Santa Clarita, a 24% difference. Median home values are within 18% of each other: $879,500 in Los Angeles and $721,000 in Santa Clarita.
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 Santa Clarita is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 7.25% in California; Santa Clarita has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Santa Clarita
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Santa Clarita has cleaner air on average: 0.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Santa Clarita if you prioritize higher median household income ($119,926/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Santa Clarita if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 0.0).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Santa Clarita?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Santa Clarita?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,486/mo in Santa Clarita, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 24%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Santa Clarita?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $119,926 in Santa Clarita, CA. Santa Clarita, 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?
Santa Clarita, CA has better air quality on average: 0.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Santa Clarita?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and California's is 13.30%. Santa Clarita, CA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Santa Clarita 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