Living in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles is the 2nd-largest city in the US, home to about 3.87 million people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (113.6 on an index where the US is 100).

Population, 2025

3,869,089-0.8% since 2020

Median home value

$921,20011.2 years of median income

Median rent

$1,933/morent plus utilities

Household income

$81,939median, per year

Price level

113.6US average = 100

January / July highs

68° / 82°lows 49° / 65°

Average commute

31 min20% work from home

State income tax

13.3%top rate, graduated

Cost of living in Los Angeles

The median home in Los Angeles is worth $921,200 and the median household earns $81,939 a year, so a typical home costs about 11.2 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,933 a month, about 28% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area at 113.6, with housing at 170.4 and goods at 106.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $85,200 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.

All items113.6

Housing170.4

Goods106.6

Utilities158.6

Other services104.4

What would my salary be worth in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles weather

Average highs run from 68°F in January to 82°F in July, and January nights average 49°F. It gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. The most comfortable months are January to December.

Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Los Angeles

People and work

The median resident is 37.2 years old, and 38% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 36% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 31 minutes; 20% of workers work from home and 6% take public transit.

Median age

37.2320th youngest of 546

Bachelor's or higher

39%adults 25+

Homeowners

36%of households

People per sq mile

8,223470.5 sq mi of land

Take transit to work

6%3% walk, 0.6% bike

Unemployment

8.2%2020-2024 average

Poverty rate

16.5%of residents

Typical home built

1965median year

Who moves to Los Angeles, and where people go

From farther away, newcomers most often come from San Bernardino (San Bernardino County), Riverside (Riverside County) and San Diego (San Diego County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to San Bernardino (San Bernardino County), Riverside (Riverside County) and Las Vegas (Clark County). See the map and full lists

IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.

Largest employers

The biggest employers in Los Angeles County (private employers only), as listed in the city's own annual financial report (fiscal 2023, 2023 figures).

1. Kaiser Permanente44,769
2. University of Southern California23,227
3. Northrop Grumman18,000
4. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center16,730
5. Allied Universal15,326
6. Target15,000
7. Providence Health & Services Southern California14,395
8. Ralphs / Food 4 Less (Kroger)14,000
9. Walt Disney Co.12,200
10. Boeing12,005

Source: City of Los Angeles Annual Comprehensive Financial Report FY2023, Principal Employers (Non-Government), from the Los Angeles Business Journal. Employee counts are as reported to the city and may include workers outside city limits. Where do locals like to eat and shop? See local favorites.

Natural hazards, home prices and air quality

FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.

Parks and sights near Los Angeles

The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.

• Disneyland Theme park 26 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Getty Center Museum 13 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Dodger Stadium 2 miles
  BeenWant to go
• J. Paul Getty Museum Museum 13 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Angel Stadium of Anaheim 28 miles
  BeenWant to go
• La Brea Tar Pits Museum 6 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art Museum 6 miles
  BeenWant to go
• University of California-Los Angeles 11 miles
  BeenWant to go
• University of Southern California 3 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles Museum in Los Angeles
  BeenWant to go
• The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens Botanical garden 10 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Norton Simon Museum Museum 8 miles
  BeenWant to go

Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.

Airports near Los Angeles

Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.

Colleges in and near Los Angeles

US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.

Frost dates and fall color in Los Angeles

Freezing nights are rare here.

NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Los Angeles Downtown USC Campus, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Los Angeles.

Wildfire smoke in Los Angeles

From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Los Angeles on about 37 days a year, including about 8 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.

Home internet in Los Angeles

Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 1,439,097 households. Compare every city.

Public schools in Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.

Other districts within 10 miles: Glendale Unified School District (25,329 students), Downey Unified School District (22,462 students), Montebello Unified School District (19,195 students), Compton Unified School District (16,436 students), Alhambra Unified School District (14,597 students), Burbank Unified School District (14,168 students).

National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.

Los Angeles's twin cities

Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Los Angeles's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).

• Oakland, CA66% matchCompare
• San Leandro, CA66% matchCompare
• Concord, CA64% matchCompare
• Hayward, CA64% matchCompare

Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler

Stargazing near Los Angeles

The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:

• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park International Dark Sky Park 120 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Borrego Springs International Dark Sky Community 122 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Joshua Tree National Park International Dark Sky Park 135 miles
  BeenWant to go

Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.

Ski resorts near Los Angeles

• Mount Waterman 28 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Buckhorn Ski Club 28 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Kratka Ridge 29 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Mountain High 39 miles
  BeenWant to go

Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.

+ Follow Los AngelesGet a short email when locals add answers, picks or photos here. Sign in to follow.

Pros and cons of living in Los Angeles

Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.

Pros

• Data 12 months a year have comfortable weather by our rule.
• Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 68°F.

Add a pro

Post

Cons

• Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 11.2 years of median household income.
• Data Everyday prices in the metro run 14% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
• Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
• Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
• Data High natural hazard risk in Los Angeles County (FEMA rates it very high), led by wildfire, inland flooding and earthquake.
• Data Air quality is a concern: 99 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).

Add a con

Post

Los Angeles report card from locals

0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Los Angeles report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.

Rate Los Angeles (2 minutes)

1 is poor, 5 is excellent. Skip anything you do not have an opinion on.

Would recommend it

12345

Value for money (optional)

12345

Job market (optional)

12345

Getting around (optional)

12345

Feeling safe (optional)

12345

Friendly people (optional)

12345

Things to do (optional)

12345

Weather (optional)

12345

How long have you lived in Los Angeles?ChooseUnder a year1 to 3 years3 to 10 yearsMore than 10 yearsI used to live thereYour ZIP code (optional, not shown)

What do you wish you had known before moving here? (optional) What do you love most? (optional)

Your first name (shown)Email (never shown, used to confirm it is you)

Send my report card

Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.

Ask a local about Los Angeles

No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Los Angeles can answer.

Ask Los Angeles locals a question

Ask

Los Angeles through locals' eyes

No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.

Share a photo

Photo (JPEG or PNG, up to 12 MB) Caption I took this photo and I am happy for Cities Online to show it with my first name.

Your first name (shown)Email (never shown, used to confirm it is you)

Send for review

Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.

Cities near Los Angeles

Straight-line distance between city centers.

Looking at the suburbs? Ladera Ranch, Rossmoor and Rancho Mission Viejo lead our ranking of the best suburbs of Los Angeles.

Cities with a similar profile

Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.

Compare Los Angeles with another city

Los Angeles vsCompare

Frequently asked questions

Is Los Angeles a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. The numbers show 12 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are high prices, expensive homes relative to local incomes, long commutes. Compare Los Angeles side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.

What is the population of Los Angeles?

The Census Bureau estimates Los Angeles had 3,869,089 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 3,899,342 in April 2020 (-0.8%).

How much do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles?

Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in the Los Angeles area. The median household here earns $81,939.

When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?

By the 1991-2020 climate normals, January to December are the most comfortable months. July averages 82°F and January 68°F for daytime highs.

What county is Los Angeles in?

Los Angeles is in Los Angeles County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.

What time zone is Los Angeles in?

Los Angeles is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).

What is the elevation of Los Angeles?

About 292 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.

Does California have a state income tax?

Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.

Sources

Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Los Angeles. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Los Angeles Downtown USC Campus, CA station; snowfall from San Gabriel Fire Dept, CA. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.