Los Angeles, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Los Angeles, CA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles planning snapshot: population 3,878,704, housing index 215 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $879,500, median rent $1,879, and income near $80,366. Expect 81°F summer highs, 49°F winter lows, and about 31-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 732.2 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 215U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $879,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,879U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $80,366U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 5.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 31 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 732.2per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 81°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Los Angeles compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 3,878,704City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $80,366Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 215ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year115% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $879,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year190% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,879City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year39% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 5.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20261.0 pt above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 31 min24% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6953% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 732.2per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)31% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2383.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)21% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 81°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 49°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 14.3 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals57% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 331As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals24% above catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Los Angeles grew 2.2% from 3,795,512 in 2010 to 3,878,704 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Los Angeles, CA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Los Angeles's housing cost index is 215 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($879,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,879 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 215 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $879,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,879 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Los Angeles, CA?
Typical ownership costs center near $879,500, while median gross rent is about $1,879 a month. Against a median household income of $80,366, rent alone is roughly 28% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $879,500
- Median rent $1,879/month
- Median household income $80,366
What is the job market like in Los Angeles, CA?
County unemployment recently ran 5.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Los Angeles is about $80,366 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 5.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $80,366
How long is the typical commute in Los Angeles, CA?
Average one-way commute time is about 31 minutes, with Walk Score near 69/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 31 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 69/100
Is Los Angeles, CA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 732.2 per 100k and property about 2383.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 732.2 per 100k
- Property 2383.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Los Angeles, CA?
Normals show summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 49°F, about 14.3 inches of rain, and roughly 331 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 81°F
- Winter low 49°F
- 14.3 in rain · 331 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Los Angeles, CA?
Newcomers often start with Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Hollywood
- Downtown
- Santa Monica
What nearby city comparisons involve Los Angeles?
These curated pair pages put Los Angeles beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 331 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 31 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 69/100. Labor-market readings near 5.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 732.2 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Los Angeles (pop. 3,878,704) sits in California. With median income around $80,366 and a cost index of 215, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $879,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Hollywood and Downtown, then compare against Santa Monica once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Los Angeles with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Hollywood
- Downtown
- Santa Monica
- Silver Lake
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Los Angeles city, 1600000US0644000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Los Angeles County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093134 LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19