How expensive is Los Angeles compared to the rest of United States?

Los Angeles ranks #21 out of 577 cities globally. It is 30.8% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 67.7 and local purchasing power is 98.2.

What is the average rent in Los Angeles?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles city centre costs approximately USD 2,544 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 2,413 (saving 5%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 5,497.

Is Los Angeles affordable to live in?

Los Angeles is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are very expensive, and local purchasing power is very weak.

🇺🇸 CA, United States · 2026

Levnadskostnader i Los Angeles

30.8% över United States-genomsnittet

Placering #21 av 577 städer · Dyrare än 96.4% av städerna i världen

+30.8%

Levnadskostnader

+63.9%

Hyra

+6.3%

Livsmedel

-31.9%

Köpkraft

Jämfört med United States-genomsnittet · Se United States-ranking →

Hyrespriser i Los Angeles

Lägenhet	Innerstad	Utanför centrum	Du sparar
1 rum	USD 2,544/mo	USD 2,413/mo	5%
3 rum	USD 5,497/mo	USD 4,290/mo	22%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Los Angeles

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$5.15	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.24	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$3.96	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$16.32	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$15.52	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$12.43	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$7.54	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.31	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.62	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$4.61	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.28	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$16.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$5.15

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.24

Bread (500g)

$3.96

Local cheese (1kg)

$16.32

Chicken (1kg)

$15.52

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$12.43

Eggs (12)

$7.54

Milk (1L)

$1.31

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.62

Tomatoes (1kg)

$4.61

Water (1.5L)

$2.28

Wine (mid-range)

$16.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$9.00	2 sources
Cappuccino	$6.58	2 sources
McMeal	$13.50	2 sources
Cheap meal	$24.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$112.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$9.00

Cappuccino

$6.58

McMeal

$13.50

Cheap meal

$24.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$112.50

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$159.39	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$71.36	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$111.77	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$58.40	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$159.39

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$71.36

Sport shoes (Nike)

$111.77

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$58.40

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$18.50	2 sources
Gym membership	$104.00	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$18.50

Gym membership

$104.00

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$1.24	2 sources
Taxi start	$3.10	1 source
Monthly pass	$88.50	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$1.24

Taxi start

$3.10

Monthly pass

$88.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$226.14	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$226.14

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

Los Angeles has a cost of living index of 75.5 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

75.5

Index

Sources

12.0

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

78.5

Expatistan

68.0

LivingCost

80.0

ShouldIMove price index

75.4

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

129.6

Based on 108 country PLI x 1.2 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Kostnadsindex

Levnadskostnader

+30.8% Very expensive

Hyra

+63.9% Very expensive

Livsmedel

+6.3% Average

Restauranger

+25.6% Very expensive