Los Angeles, CA vs. San Jose, CA
Median rent is $1,879 a month in Los Angeles, CA and $2,617 in San Jose, CA. Household income is $80,366 against $141,565. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Los Angeles, CA median | San Jose, CA median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,110 | $44,570 | +5.8% |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,700 | $44,220 | +17.3% |
| Software Developers | $160,920 | $213,110 | +32.4% |
| Registered Nurses | $135,560 | $216,740 | +59.9% |
| General and Operations Managers | $125,830 | $163,860 | +30.2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $38,720 | $43,870 | +13.3% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,850 | $41,920 | +16.9% |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,360 | $121,700 | +29.0% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Los Angeles, CA vs San Jose, CA: frequently asked questions
Is San Jose, CA more expensive than Los Angeles, CA?
No. Prices in San Jose, CA are about 2.2% lower than in Los Angeles, CA: a regional price level of 112.9 against 115.5, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in San Jose, CA to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Los Angeles, CA?
About $97,800. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (115.5 in Los Angeles, CA, 112.9 in San Jose, CA) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA?
The median gross rent is $1,879 a month in Los Angeles, CA and $2,617 in San Jose, CA, a difference of $738 a month or $8,856 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA?
The median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $141,565 in San Jose, CA. Rent takes 28.1% of the median income in Los Angeles, CA and 22.2% in San Jose, CA.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in San Jose, CA?
About $104,700 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $2,617 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $75,200 in Los Angeles, CA.
More comparisons with Los Angeles, CA
More comparisons with San Jose, CA
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Los Angeles, CA converted into San Jose, CA at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Los Angeles, CA · San Jose, CA