Overall
113.6
+13.6 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Cost-of-living indicators for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 113.6
- Overall RPP
- #3
- of 387 metros
- 170.4
- Rents RPP
- $88K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Los Angeles is more expensive than 99% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 113.6, 13.6% above the national average, led by rents at 170.4.
- 113.6
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #3
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 1%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 170.4
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $88,055 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $113,566.
What the Numbers Mean for Los Angeles
Los Angeles ranks #3 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 113.6, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is 13.6% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Los Angeles's most and least expensive categories — rents at 170.4 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $88,055 inside Los Angeles, while a household needs roughly $113,566 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 170.4 — 70.4% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Los Angeles's overall index has stayed within 0.2 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 106.6 and services at 158.6, meaning everyday spending in Los Angeles is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Los Angeles vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
114 Top 1% higher than 99% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Los Angeles cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
170.4 RPP
- Services
Services
158.6 RPP
- Overall
Overall
113.6 RPP
- Goods
Goods
106.6 RPP
What this shows Los Angeles's gap from the national average is led by rents at 170.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Los Angeles's cost comes from
Metros near Los Angeles's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 106.6, rents 170.4). Los Angeles is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Los Angeles's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
106.6
+6.6 above avg
Services
158.6
+58.6 above avg
Rents
170.4
+70.4 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$113,566
in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$56,783
$75,000 nationally
$85,175
$125,000 nationally
$141,958
$150,000 nationally
$170,349
$200,000 nationally
$227,132
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 0.2 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.3 |
| 2009 | 112.2 |
| 2010 | 112.5 |
| 2011 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 112.1 |
| 2013 | 112.4 |
| 2014 | 112.2 |
| 2015 | 113.3 |
| 2016 | 111.3 |
| 2017 | 110.2 |
| 2018 | 111.0 |
| 2019 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 113.9 |
| 2021 | 114.2 |
| 2022 | 113.3 |
| 2023 | 114.7 |
| 2024 | 113.6 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA's index of 113.6.
Other CA Metros
What this means for Los Angeles
How to read Los Angeles's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $88,055 in Los Angeles. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 170.4 (70.4% above average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $93,525; adjusted for Los Angeles's price level that is about $82,353 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Los Angeles head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA? ▼
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 113.6, meaning it is 13.6% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 106.6, services at 158.6, and rents at 170.4. It ranks #3 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $113,566 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Conversely, $100K earned in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA has the purchasing power of $88,055 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA? ▼
Rents in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA are indexed at 170.4, which is 70.4% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA's overall cost index changed by +0.2 points (from 113.3 to 113.6). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, New York-Newark-Jersey City, Napa. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA's 113.6.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
