Los Angeles, CA vs New York City, NY
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Aug 2026
Report card
| Category | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | New York CityNew York City, NY | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Average | |
| Sovereignty | Moderate | Moderate | Same |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At +6.0% year-over-year job growth, New York City, NY shows a rate 4.8 points higher than Los Angeles, CA at +1.2%, both from 2023 Census figures. The two cities also diverge sharply on air quality, with Los Angeles posting an AQI of 80—2.1× higher and in the 99th percentile—versus New York City’s 39, which sits in the 30th percentile. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 12 in Los Angeles versus 3 in New York City, a 4.6× gap, while the summer dew point runs 64°F in New York City, 3°F higher than Los Angeles’s 61°F.
Cost pressures tilt in opposite directions depending on the measure. Los Angeles carries a cost-of-living index of 222, 12% higher than New York City’s 198, and its median home value of $879,500 is 17% higher than the $751,700 figure. Yet the comfortable income for a single person is $137,610 in New York City, 8% higher than Los Angeles’s $127,161, and per-capita income reaches $50,776 there versus $46,270 in Los Angeles. Median household income stays nearly level at $80,366 and $79,713.
On safety and daily life, violent crime per 100,000 people measures 668 in Los Angeles and 659 in New York City, both in the 92nd percentile. Healthcare access scores 87/100 in Los Angeles, 10 points higher than New York City’s 77/100. Average household size is 2.6 in Los Angeles, 5% larger than New York City’s 2.5, while the average commute runs 40.6 minutes in New York City, 10 minutes longer than Los Angeles’s 31.1. Distance to the international border is 262 mi for New York City, 2.1× higher than Los Angeles’s 123 mi.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Los Angeles or New York City?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 22293rd pctl | 19890th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Los Angeles, CA 222; New York City, NY 198; Los Angeles is 12% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $879,50094th pctl | $751,70092nd pctl | Median home value: Los Angeles, CA $879,500; New York City, NY $751,700; Los Angeles is 17% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,87988th pctl | $1,77984th pctl | Median rent: Los Angeles, CA $1,879; New York City, NY $1,779; Los Angeles is 6% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $80,36659th pctl | $79,71359th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $127,16192nd pctl | $137,61093rd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Los Angeles, CA $127,161; New York City, NY $137,610; New York City is 8% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $186,92692nd pctl | $202,28693rd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Los Angeles, CA $186,926; New York City, NY $202,286; New York City is 8% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in New York City needs about
$66,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 222 vs 198). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.8%97th pctl | 5.1%91st pctl | Unemployment: Los Angeles, CA 5.8%; New York City, NY 5.1%; Los Angeles is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.2%55th pctl | +6.0%99th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Los Angeles, CA +1.2%; New York City, NY +6.0%; New York City is 4.8 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $46,27071st pctl | $50,77679th pctl | Per-capita income: Los Angeles, CA $46,270; New York City, NY $50,776; New York City is 10% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.5%72nd pctl | 17.4%75th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 31.1 min89th pctl | 40.6 min99th pctl | Average commute: Los Angeles, CA 31.1 min; New York City, NY 40.6 min; New York City is 10 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.3%77th pctl | 15.0%70th pctl | Work from home: Los Angeles, CA 17.3%; New York City, NY 15.0%; Los Angeles is 2.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | Job market: Los Angeles, CA C-; New York City, NY B-; New York City is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 66892nd pctl | 65992nd pctl | About the same |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,24882nd pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Los Angeles, CA A-; New York City, NY A+; New York City is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Air quality: Los Angeles, CA B-; New York City, NY A+; New York City is graded higher. |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Los Angeles, CA; tap water isn't available for New York City, NY.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 5 mi4th pctl | Nearest large city: Los Angeles, CA 0 mi; New York City, NY 5 mi; New York City is 5 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Los Angeles, CA D+; New York City, NY C; New York City is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 123 mi13th pctl | 262 mi36th pctl | Distance to international border: Los Angeles, CA 123 mi; New York City, NY 262 mi; New York City is 2.1 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 12 mi11th pctl | 4 mi5th pctl | Distance to coastline: Los Angeles, CA 12 mi; New York City, NY 4 mi; Los Angeles is 3.2 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,857,897100th pctl | 8,516,202100th pctl | Population: Los Angeles, CA 3,857,897; New York City, NY 8,516,202; New York City is 2.2 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 8,19997th pctl | 28,342100th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Los Angeles, CA 8,199; New York City, NY 28,342; New York City is 3.5 times higher. |
| Median age | 36.940th pctl | 3850th pctl | Median age: Los Angeles, CA 36.9; New York City, NY 38; New York City is 1.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.8%63rd pctl | 41.0%68th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Los Angeles, CA 37.8%; New York City, NY 41.0%; New York City is 3.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.672nd pctl | 2.559th pctl | Average household size: Los Angeles, CA 2.6; New York City, NY 2.5; Los Angeles is 5% larger. |
More about Los Angeles's residents · New York City's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | New York CityNew York City, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+17 | D+22 |
| 2024 presidential | D +31.0 pts | D +40.0 pts |
Full politics data: Los Angeles · New York City
Moving between Los Angeles and New York City
- Median rent: $1,879 in Los Angeles, $1,779 in New York City
- Median home value: $879,500 in Los Angeles, $751,700 in New York City
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 222 in Los Angeles, 198 in New York City
- Median household income: $80,366 in Los Angeles, $79,713 in New York City
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $186,926 in Los Angeles, $202,286 in New York City
- Unemployment: 5.8% in Los Angeles, 5.1% in New York City
- Average commute: 31.1 min in Los Angeles, 40.6 min in New York City
- Violent crime per 100k: 668 in Los Angeles, 659 in New York City
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Los Angeles and New York City against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Los Angeles or New York City?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Los Angeles and New York City
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.