Cost of Living in Los Angeles
United States
Comfortable budget (single)
$4,482/month
Range $2,831–$4,482/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Los Angeles?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Los Angeles for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$6
flat white at cafe
Beer
$8.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$24
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$560
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$124
monthly pass
Gym
$59
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $2,123–$3,303 | ↑ +34% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $1,121–$1,769 | ↑ +34% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $88–$171 | ↑ +34% |
| Internet & Mobile | $35–$59 | ↑ +34% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $448–$672 | ↑ +34% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $59–$106 | ↑ +33% |
| Coffee | $5–$7 | ↑ +50% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $112–$136 | ↑ +35% |
| Gym membership | $41–$77 | ↑ +34% |
| Cinema ticket | $17–$21 | ↑ +36% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Los Angeles — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$2,123–$3,303/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$14,410
Buy outside (per m²)
$7,930
Price-to-rent ratio
20×
Avg mortgage rate
6.8%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Los Angeles center at ~$14,410/m² with a 25y loan at 6.8% would cost roughly $6,001/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Los Angeles. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $5,800 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $9,200 | ✅ Yes |
| Marketing manager | $7,000 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $4,800 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $6,000 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Los Angeles.
Utilize the TAP card for seamless travel across Metro buses and trains to save on daily commuting costs in Los Angeles.
Shop at farmers markets like the Hollywood Farmers Market for fresh produce and better prices than conventional supermarkets.
Explore diverse neighborhoods such as Koreatown or Silver Lake for more affordable dining and unique local experiences compared to Westside areas.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,831–$4,482/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,303/mo
- Groceries: ~$672/mo
- Transport: ~$136/mo
Couple
$4,482–$6,841/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,303/mo
- Groceries: ~$672/mo
- Transport: ~$136/mo
Family
$6,487–$10,026/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,303/mo
- Groceries: ~$672/mo
- Transport: ~$136/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Los Angeles Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,654–$4,129/mo
Los Angeles Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,335–$3,633/mo
Los Angeles Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,698–$2,642/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Weather
- • Creative industries
- • Diversity
❌ Cons
- • Car dependency
- • Sprawl
- • High rent
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Compare Los Angeles with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.