Austin, TX vs Los Angeles, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Los Angeles, CA is 15.8% more expensive than Austin, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Austin works out to about $86,900 in Los Angeles, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 41.6% more in Los Angeles. Goods are 13.7% higher and other services 8.4% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 93.3% higher in Los Angeles.
- Typical asking rent is $2,929 a month in Los Angeles and $1,603 in Austin, $15,912 a year more in Los Angeles (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $950,000 in Los Angeles and $414,000 in Austin.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Los Angeles was 11.7% more expensive than Austin.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 41.6% higher in Los Angeles than in Austin
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
All items Austin, TX: 98.1 Los Angeles, CA: 113.6
Goods Austin, TX: 93.8 Los Angeles, CA: 106.6
Housing (rents) Austin, TX: 120.4 Los Angeles, CA: 170.4
Utilities Austin, TX: 82.0 Los Angeles, CA: 158.6
Other services Austin, TX: 96.2 Los Angeles, CA: 104.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.1 | 113.6 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 106.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 120.4 | 170.4 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 158.6 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 104.4 |
| Category | Austin | Los Angeles | Los Angeles vs Austin |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.1 | 113.6 | +15.8% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 106.6 | +13.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 120.4 | 170.4 | +41.6% |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 158.6 | +93.3% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 104.4 | +8.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,603 | $2,929 | +82.7% |
| Typical home value | $414,000 | $950,000 | +129.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Austin | $75,000 | $86,900 | +15.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Austin and Los Angeles has widened since 2008: 13.7 points then, 15.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.6 | 113.3 |
| 2009 | 98.9 | 112.2 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 112.5 |
| 2011 | 100.3 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 100.9 | 112.1 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 112.4 |
| 2014 | 101.4 | 112.2 |
| 2015 | 101.6 | 113.3 |
| 2016 | 102.6 | 111.3 |
| 2017 | 101.8 | 110.2 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 111.0 |
| 2019 | 99.4 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 101.1 | 113.9 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 114.2 |
| 2022 | 98.8 | 113.3 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 114.7 |
| 2024 | 98.1 | 113.6 |
Goods
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 108.0 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 104.0 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 104.4 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 104.4 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 106.2 |
| 2015 | 97.0 | 108.1 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 107.8 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 103.6 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 105.9 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 106.5 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 108.9 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 106.5 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 107.1 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 106.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 110.0 | 183.8 |
| 2009 | 111.7 | 183.2 |
| 2010 | 108.1 | 180.0 |
| 2011 | 110.3 | 178.3 |
| 2012 | 115.2 | 178.4 |
| 2013 | 114.7 | 176.7 |
| 2014 | 117.7 | 178.5 |
| 2015 | 119.2 | 177.2 |
| 2016 | 122.7 | 178.5 |
| 2017 | 124.9 | 178.4 |
| 2018 | 121.9 | 180.5 |
| 2019 | 121.5 | 183.4 |
| 2020 | 124.5 | 183.6 |
| 2021 | 122.5 | 181.5 |
| 2022 | 126.3 | 176.9 |
| 2023 | 126.4 | 173.0 |
| 2024 | 120.4 | 170.4 |
Utilities
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.7 | 118.2 |
| 2009 | 94.4 | 119.5 |
| 2010 | 95.0 | 119.3 |
| 2011 | 90.2 | 114.5 |
| 2012 | 88.5 | 116.2 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 117.9 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 127.7 |
| 2015 | 90.8 | 125.1 |
| 2016 | 86.8 | 125.2 |
| 2017 | 82.7 | 127.1 |
| 2018 | 84.1 | 107.9 |
| 2019 | 85.7 | 112.9 |
| 2020 | 85.8 | 117.6 |
| 2021 | 85.8 | 132.3 |
| 2022 | 87.4 | 149.1 |
| 2023 | 89.2 | 140.7 |
| 2024 | 82.0 | 158.6 |
Other services
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 102.5 |
| 2011 | 100.8 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 102.6 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 103.2 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 101.8 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 103.0 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 99.9 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 101.8 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 102.7 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 102.9 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 103.7 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 106.1 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 104.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,929 in Los Angeles vs $1,603 in Austin
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,179 | $1,768 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,204 | $1,809 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,215 | $1,843 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,212 | $1,858 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,223 | $1,888 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,251 | $1,925 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,249 | $1,948 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,236 | $1,955 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,266 | $2,007 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,285 | $2,042 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,277 | $2,062 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,270 | $2,071 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,286 | $2,104 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,312 | $2,132 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,322 | $2,155 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,327 | $2,171 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,348 | $2,190 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,370 | $2,222 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,386 | $2,239 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,381 | $2,246 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,401 | $2,260 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,383 | $2,236 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,383 | $2,236 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,374 | $2,238 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,425 | $2,275 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,533 | $2,338 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,660 | $2,468 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,671 | $2,523 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,705 | $2,591 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,774 | $2,668 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,788 | $2,706 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,730 | $2,689 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,744 | $2,706 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,748 | $2,733 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,717 | $2,759 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,683 | $2,742 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,671 | $2,766 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,682 | $2,796 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,650 | $2,819 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,610 | $2,805 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,617 | $2,865 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,626 | $2,871 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,592 | $2,878 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,563 | $2,866 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,577 | $2,890 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,598 | $2,916 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,603 | $2,929 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $950,000 in Los Angeles vs $414,000 in Austin
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Austin, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $258K | $507K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $263K | $509K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $268K | $505K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $274K | $495K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $279K | $518K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $284K | $538K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $287K | $528K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $291K | $524K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $295K | $557K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $298K | $578K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $299K | $579K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $303K | $591K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $306K | $613K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $308K | $627K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $310K | $644K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $313K | $660K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $314K | $643K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $316K | $635K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $319K | $645K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $325K | $664K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $333K | $669K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $337K | $666K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $346K | $682K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $365K | $723K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $394K | $741K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $454K | $769K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $483K | $797K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $494K | $822K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $530K | $864K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $565K | $897K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $545K | $890K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $516K | $878K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $494K | $849K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $486K | $858K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $482K | $896K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $473K | $922K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $468K | $918K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $465K | $931K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $460K | $947K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $457K | $961K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $450K | $954K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $440K | $941K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $433K | $938K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $429K | $948K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $423K | $951K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $415K | $947K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $414K | $950K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Austin, TX
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, CA
- Reverse: moving from Los Angeles to Austin
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.