Cost of living, Los Angeles
113.6
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Los Angeles sits about 13.6% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +13.6%
- Metro
- Los Angeles
- CBSA
- 31080
Los Angeles all-items RPP is 113.6 (2024), about 13.6% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $102,240 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Los Angeles
| Component | Los Angeles | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 113.6 | 100 |
| Goods | 106.6 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 170.4 | 100 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Los Angeles
| At US average | In Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $68,160 |
| $90,000 | $102,240 |
| $150,000 | $170,400 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (113.6 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Los Angeles?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is 113.6, versus a US average of 100 (+13.6%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $102,240 in Los Angeles for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 10,800 OEWS emp. $234,290
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 23,180 OEWS emp. $204,370
- Physicians, All Other , 6,810 OEWS emp. $196,760
- Lawyers , 41,580 OEWS emp. $194,410
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 9,570 OEWS emp. $190,900
- Financial Managers , 34,480 OEWS emp. $175,310
See methodology and disclaimer.