Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,264 in Los Angeles, CA versus $4,852 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,231 in Los Angeles, CA versus $7,370 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,199 in Los Angeles, CA versus $9,889 in New York, NY.

Living in Los Angeles, CA costs roughly 12% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Los Angeles, CA 209% above, New York, NY 252% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.10 $25.10

$25.42 $25.42

-1.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$142 $142

-14.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.68 $14.68

$13.97 $13.97

5.08%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$6.42 $6.42

-8.72%

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

$3.77 $3.77

$3.91 $3.91

-3.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.96 $2.96

-3.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$7.83 $7.83

-0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.86 $9.86

2.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.33 $1.33

1.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.81 $4.81

$4.73 $4.73

1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$6.89 $6.89

-28.45%

Eggs

$5.77 $5.77

$5.63 $5.63

2.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.05 $12.05

$17.39 $17.39

-30.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$15.02 $15.02

4.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.17 $20.17

$17.97 $17.97

12.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$6.02 $6.02

-9.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.15 $2.15

9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$5.89 $5.89

-16.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$6.21 $6.21

-8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.40 $3.40

-3.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.26 $4.26

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.67 $2.67

-23.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.88 $12.88

$18.70 $18.70

-31.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$19.72 $19.72

-24.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.24 $3.24

-4.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.91 $3.91

-28.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.95 $2.95

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 $103

$139 $139

-25.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.03 $3.03

0.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.22 $2.22

-18.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.69 $31.69

$41.33 $41.33

-23.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.08 $1.08

41.67%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$35.3K $35.3K

4.47%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.30%

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

$294 $294

$236 $236

24.48%

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

$74.5 $74.5

$73.5 $73.5

1.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.8 $81.8

$76.1 $76.1

7.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.8 $71.8

$128 $128

-44.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 $12.10

$63.5 $63.5

-80.93%

Cinema Ticket

$19.29 $19.29

$23.19 $23.19

-16.82%

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

$1,762 $1,762

$3,340 $3,340

-47.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.2K $32.2K

$59.9K $59.9K

-46.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.3 $90.3

$72.8 $72.8

24.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.4 $64.4

$54.1 $54.1

18.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$119 $119

-3.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$193 $193

$126 $126

53.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$4,467 $4,467

-41.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,384 $2,384

$2,988 $2,988

-20.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,287 $5,287

$9,222 $9,222

-42.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,332 $4,332

$5,537 $5,537

-21.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,393 $7,393

$18.9K $18.9K

-60.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,068 $7,068

$6,621 $6,621

6.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$5,327 $5,327

-19.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.49

0.15%

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

Last update for Los Angeles, CA: September 5, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,595 in Los Angeles, CA and $4,467 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $121 in Los Angeles, CA vs $142 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $472 vs $512 per month, with Los Angeles, CA cheaper across the board.

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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Los Angeles, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in New York, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,595 in Los Angeles, CA versus $4,467 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Los Angeles, CA runs roughly 34% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,762 in Los Angeles, CA versus $3,340 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $4,000. Los Angeles, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Los Angeles, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Los Angeles, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.