City Comparison · 2026
Boulder vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Boulder = $123k in Los Angeles
Metric
Boulder
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓1.43
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$2,100/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$2,650/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
CO
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$74,336
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓25.66%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$49,136
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Boulder CO | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,608 $3,967/mo · 20.65% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $74,336 $6,195/mo · 25.66% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $106,678 $8,890/mo · 28.88% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boulder or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Boulder has a cost-of-living index of 1.43 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Boulder is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Boulder is $2,100/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Boulder?
$100k in Boulder = $123k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 23.1%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Boulder or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $74,336 in CO (Boulder) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $49,136 in Boulder vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
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