Median rent is 28% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,613/mo). Buying is cheaper in Los Angeles, where the median home runs $879,500 versus $1,031,100. Households earn more in Walnut Creek ($135,665 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Walnut Creek, CA
How much would you need to earn in Walnut Creek, 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
Walnut Creek
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 $2,613/mo in Walnut Creek, a 28% difference. Median home values are within 15% of each other: $879,500 in Los Angeles and $1,031,100 in Walnut Creek.
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 Walnut Creek is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 7.25% in California; Walnut Creek has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Walnut Creek
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Walnut Creek.
Pick Walnut Creek if you prioritize higher median household income ($135,665/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Walnut Creek?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Walnut Creek?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,613/mo in Walnut Creek, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 28%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Walnut Creek?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $135,665 in Walnut Creek, CA. Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and California's is 13.30%. Walnut Creek, CA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Walnut Creek 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