City Comparison · 2026
Lakewood vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Lakewood = $138k in Los Angeles
Metric
Lakewood
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓1.28
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,800/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$2,250/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
✓$52,736
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Lakewood 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 Lakewood or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Lakewood has a cost-of-living index of 1.28 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Lakewood is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Lakewood is $1,800/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Lakewood?
$100k in Lakewood = $138k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 37.5%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Lakewood or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $74,336 in CO (Lakewood) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $52,736 in Lakewood vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideLakewood vs New York City cost of livingLakewood vs Los Angeles cost of livingLakewood vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in LakewoodCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in LakewoodRegistered Nurse salary in LakewoodWhere does $100k rank nationally?