Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Angeles, CA and Aspen, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Angeles, CA and Aspen, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,552 per month in Los Angeles, CA vs $2,908 in Aspen, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,465 per month in Los Angeles, CA vs $4,246 in Aspen, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,378 per month in Los Angeles, CA vs $5,585 in Aspen, CO, rent included.

Los Angeles, CA costs about 22% more than Aspen, CO, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Los Angeles, CA and Aspen, CO sit above the global median – Los Angeles, CA by 167%, Aspen, CO by 118%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$24.94 $24.94

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$69.1 $69.1

45.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.73 $13.73

$10.97 $10.97

25.16%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.81 $5.81

0.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.53 $3.53

-19.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.73 $2.73

-15.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.25 $8.25

$7.92 $7.92

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$7.89 $7.89

25.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.21 $1.21

1.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.49 $5.49

-20.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.70 $6.70

-11.94%

Eggs

$7.34 $7.34

$5.61 $5.61

30.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$13.46 $13.46

-7.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$16.53 $16.53

0.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.80 $19.80

$17.21 $17.21

15.05%

Apples (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.47 $5.47

12.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.47 $1.47

79.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$6.19 $6.19

-30.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$6.16 $6.16

-20.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$4.00 $4.00

-22.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.68 $3.68

-33.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.96 $2.96

-35.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.54 $2.54

-13.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$11.82 $11.82

-1.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.93 $14.93

$17.01 $17.01

-12.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.84 $1.84

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.09 $3.09

4.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$3.41 $3.41

-48.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 $82.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.56 $2.56

18.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.41 $1.41

17.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$23.98 $23.98

22.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.82 $0.82

51.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.8K $31.8K

$35.0K $35.0K

-9.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

0.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$186 $186

$145 $145

27.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$60.0 $60.0

11.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 $71.4

$71.9 $71.9

-0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.71 $48.71

$133 $133

-63.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.71 $12.71

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$16.36 $16.36

11.74%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,791 $1,791

$1,448 $1,448

23.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$30.9K $30.9K

-22.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 $61.8

$71.7 $71.7

-13.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 $47.36

$48.82 $48.82

-2.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$94.0 $94.0

8.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$146 $146

1.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,636 $2,636

$2,523 $2,523

4.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,065 $2,065

$1,356 $1,356

52.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,474 $4,474

$2,641 $2,641

69.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,730 $3,730

$2,205 $2,205

69.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,493 $7,493

$10.8K $10.8K

-30.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,987 $6,987

$7,597 $7,597

-8.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,425 $4,425

$5,071 $5,071

-12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.42

1.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Los Angeles, CA: July 27, 2026

Last update for Aspen, CO: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,636 in Los Angeles, CA versus $2,523 in Aspen, CO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Aspen, CO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Los Angeles, CA versus $69.0 in Aspen, CO. Groceries tell a different story – $475 in Los Angeles, CA vs $494 in Aspen, CO – so Los Angeles, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Los Angeles, CA vs Aspen, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Los Angeles, CA costs about 22% more than Aspen, CO, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,327 per month in Los Angeles, CA and $4,362 in Aspen, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aspen, CO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Los Angeles, CA and $69.0 in Aspen, CO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Los Angeles, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,552 in Los Angeles, CA and $2,908 in Aspen, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aspen, CO costs $2,908 versus $3,552 in Los Angeles, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Aspen, CO. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Angeles, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.