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: $3,664 in Los Angeles, CA versus $4,503 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,504 in Los Angeles, CA versus $7,077 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,344 in Los Angeles, CA versus $9,650 in New York, NY.

Living in Los Angeles, CA costs roughly 19% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Los Angeles, CA 173% above, New York, NY 236% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.71 $24.71

$30.28 $30.28

-18.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$142 $142

-28.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$12.65 $12.65

10.83%

Cappuccino

$5.93 $5.93

$5.81 $5.81

2.07%

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

$2.84 $2.84

$3.26 $3.26

-12.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.58 $2.58

-13.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.67 $8.67

$8.19 $8.19

5.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$11.82 $11.82

-16.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.53 $1.53

-19.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.27 $5.27

-14.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$8.34 $8.34

-31.53%

Eggs

$7.59 $7.59

$7.25 $7.25

4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 $12.84

$17.29 $17.29

-25.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$16.21 $16.21

6.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.44 $19.44

$19.82 $19.82

-1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.57 $7.57

-19.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.42 $2.42

9.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.83 $5.83

-25.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$6.39 $6.39

-24.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.87 $3.87

-23.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$4.06 $4.06

-38.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.12 $3.12

-40.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.45 $2.45

-9.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$19.26 $19.26

-39.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$19.96 $19.96

-24.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.99 $2.99

-13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.73 $3.73

-14.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.84 $2.84

-39.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.6 $82.6

$134 $134

-38.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 $3.13

$5.11 $5.11

-38.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.11 $2.11

-21.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.23 $29.23

$42.31 $42.31

-30.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.97 $0.97

29.90%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$34.7K $34.7K

-9.80%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.8K $27.8K

-4.48%

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

$186 $186

$181 $181

2.30%

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

$65.5 $65.5

$60.2 $60.2

8.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$62.5 $62.5

12.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.21 $47.21

$143 $143

-67.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.32 $12.32

$65.3 $65.3

-81.12%

Cinema Ticket

$17.80 $17.80

$19.98 $19.98

-10.91%

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

$1,784 $1,784

$3,216 $3,216

-44.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$57.2K $57.2K

-58.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 $62.4

$67.5 $67.5

-7.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.15 $47.15

$47.68 $47.68

-1.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$111 $111

-7.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$169 $169

-11.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,564 $2,564

$4,092 $4,092

-37.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,032 $2,032

$2,694 $2,694

-24.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,424 $4,424

$8,445 $8,445

-47.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,768 $3,768

$5,128 $5,128

-26.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,833 $7,833

$18.2K $18.2K

-56.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,979 $6,979

$6,299 $6,299

10.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,380 $4,380

$5,540 $5,540

-20.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.44

0.78%

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

Last update for Los Angeles, CA: June 2, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,564 in Los Angeles, CA and $4,092 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 26% 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: $102 in Los Angeles, CA vs $142 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $478 vs $554 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, New York, NY earns 26% less. 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: $2,564 in Los Angeles, CA versus $4,092 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 63% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,784 in Los Angeles, CA versus $3,216 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 $2,500. 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 23% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.