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Compare Cost of Living

Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Atlanta vs Los Angeles

Los Angeles is 13.5% more expensive than Atlanta. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
100.1
Overall RPP
100.4
Goods
96.2
Services
111.0
Rents
Metro B
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
113.6
Overall RPP
106.6
Goods
158.6
Services
170.4
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Atlanta Los Angeles Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 100.1 113.6 +13.5
Goods 100.4 106.6 +6.2
Services 96.2 158.6 +62.3
Rents/Housing 111.0 170.4 +59.4

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost Higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
100.1
Los Angeles
113.6
Goods Higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
100.4
Los Angeles
106.6
Services Higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
96.2
Los Angeles
158.6
Rents/Housing Higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
111.0
Los Angeles
170.4

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Los Angeles to match your purchasing power in Atlanta:

Salary in Atlanta Equivalent in Los Angeles Difference
$50,000 $56,750 +$6,750
$75,000 $85,125 +$10,125
$100,000 $113,500 +$13,500
$150,000 $170,250 +$20,250

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Atlanta Los Angeles
Population 6,176,937 13,012,469
Median Household Income $86,338 $93,525
Data Year 2024 2024
State GA CA

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Los Angeles is 13.5 points pricier than Atlanta (100.1 vs 113.6).

Goods: Los Angeles is 6.2 points pricier than Atlanta (100.4 vs 106.6).

Services: Los Angeles is 62.3 points pricier than Atlanta (96.2 vs 158.6).

Rents/Housing: Los Angeles is 59.4 points pricier than Atlanta (111.0 vs 170.4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles more expensive than Atlanta?
Los Angeles is 13.5% more expensive than Atlanta. The overall cost index is 113.6 vs 100.1 (national average = 100).
What salary in Los Angeles is equivalent to $100K in Atlanta?
A $100,000 salary in Atlanta has the same purchasing power as $113,500 in Los Angeles, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Atlanta and Los Angeles?
Housing/rents in Atlanta are indexed at 111.0 while Los Angeles is at 170.4 (national average = 100). Los Angeles has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Atlanta or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is larger by population. Atlanta has 6,176,937 residents vs 13,012,469 in Los Angeles.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100