Cost of Living in Los Angeles County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Los Angeles County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Los Angeles County ranks #3,099 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Los Angeles County Median Home Value Reaches 834,200 Dollars
The median home value in Los Angeles County is $834,200. This is $230,088 above the California unweighted county mean of $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units are $2,427, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,881. The median gross rent was estimated at $1,954 per month. Regarding renter costs, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income—the official ACS B25071 GRAPI—is 34.1%. This figure is 2.4 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median renter-household income in the county is $66,677. These figures are based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25077 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Los Angeles County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.1% of renter household income in Los Angeles County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,954 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,427. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $78,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Los Angeles County's $1,954 median is 15.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Los Angeles County
Rent Burden
26.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,103
per month
Owner Cost Burden
32.3%
of gross income
The median home in Los Angeles County may be a stretch
Median home value is $834,200. Estimated monthly cost: $6,660 vs. your max of $2,103.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Los Angeles County, California?
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Is Los Angeles County affordable?
How does Los Angeles County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Los Angeles County?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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