Los Angeles vs New York: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,881,041 | 8,622,467 |
| Median household income | $76,244 | $76,607 |
| Median home value | $822,600 | $732,100 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,791 | $1,714 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY comes down to what you value most. New York has the lower median home value, and New York has the lower median rent.
New York has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or New York?
- By median home value, New York is the cheaper of the two ($732,100 vs $822,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Los Angeles or New York?
- Median household income is $76,244 in Los Angeles versus $76,607 in New York, per the US Census Bureau.