Median rent is 12% lower in Sun City West ($1,658/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Sun City West, where the median home runs $350,500 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $63,792 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Sun City West, AZ
How much would you need to earn in Sun City West, 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
Sun City West
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 rent is modestly lower in Sun City West at $1,658/mo compared to $1,879/mo in Los Angeles (12% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $350,500 in Sun City West — 60% 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 Sun City West is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 5.60% in Arizona; Sun City West has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Sun City West
Income tax: 2.50%
Sales tax: 5.60%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Sun City West.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Sun City West if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,658/mo median).
Pick Sun City West if you prioritize lower state income tax (2.50%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Sun City West?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Sun City West?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,658/mo in Sun City West, AZ. Sun City West, AZ has the lower rent by about 12%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Sun City West?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $63,792 in Sun City West, AZ. 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 Sun City West?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Arizona's is 2.50%. Sun City West, AZ has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Sun City West 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