City Comparison · 2026
New York City vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in New York City = $83k in Los Angeles
Metric
New York City
Los Angeles
COL Index
2.13
✓1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
$3,500/mo
✓$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
$4,500/mo
✓$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
NY
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$73,522
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓26.48%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
$31,522
✓$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | New York City NY | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,420 $3,952/mo · 20.97% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,522 $6,127/mo · 26.48% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $104,939 $8,745/mo · 30.04% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York City or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
New York City has a cost-of-living index of 2.13 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Los Angeles is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in New York City is $3,500/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in New York City vs Los Angeles?
$100k in New York City = $83k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is lower by 17.4%.
Which city has better after-tax income — New York City or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,522 in NY (New York City) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $31,522 in New York City vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
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