Median rent is 27% lower in Los Angeles ($1,933/mo vs $2,664/mo). Buying is cheaper in Los Angeles, where the median home runs $921,200 versus $991,600. Households earn more in Thousand Oaks ($135,603 vs $81,939 a year). Taken together, Thousand Oaks is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 85.8 against 114.7 — about 25% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Cost of living verdict
Thousand Oaks is 25% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 85.8 in Thousand Oaks vs 114.7 in Los Angeles (US national average = 100)
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Thousand Oaks, CA
How much would you need to earn in Thousand Oaks, CA to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
Equivalent salary in Thousand Oaks, CA
$56,104
You could earn $18,896 less (25% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Thousand Oaks
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Los Angeles — median rent of $1,933/mo versus $2,664/mo in Thousand Oaks, a 27% difference. Median home values are within 7% of each other: $921,200 in Los Angeles and $991,600 in Thousand Oaks.
Metric
Los Angeles
Thousand Oaks
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Los Angeles
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Thousand Oaks
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 31.0) but not yet for Thousand Oaks.
Pick Thousand Oaks if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 85.8 vs 114.7).
Pick Thousand Oaks if you prioritize higher median household income ($135,603/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,933/mo median).
Thousand Oaks is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 85.8 versus 114.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 25% lower in Thousand Oaks.
Median rent is $1,933/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,664/mo in Thousand Oaks, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 27%.
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles, CA and $135,603 in Thousand Oaks, CA. Thousand Oaks, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA is equivalent to roughly $74,806 in Thousand Oaks, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
