Los Angeles is about 2% more expensive than Seattle overall - $100,000 in Seattle is worth about $102,189 in Los Angeles.
Housing costs in Los Angeles and Seattle are fairly close. The median home in Seattle is $912,100 compared to $879,500 in Los Angeles - a modest gap that won’t dominate your relocation math.
For renters, the picture flips. The typical apartment in Seattle costs $1,998/month versus $1,879/month in Los Angeles. But income matters too: the median household in Los Angeles earns $80,366 and in Seattle earns $121,984. That means rent swallows about 28.1% of median income in Los Angeles and 19.7% in Seattle.
Scale is another factor. Los Angeles is a much larger metro (3,857,897 people) compared to Seattle (741,440), which affects job market depth, commute times, and amenities.
Monthly cost breakdown: Los Angeles vs Seattle
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Los Angeles (rent) | Seattle (rent) | Los Angeles (own) | Seattle (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,879 | $1,998 | $5,108 | $5,297 |
| Transportation | $1,247 | $1,853 | $1,247 | $1,853 |
| Food | $981 | $1,457 | $981 | $1,457 |
| Healthcare | $616 | $915 | $616 | $915 |
| Other | $2,190 | $3,254 | $2,190 | $3,254 |
| Total | $6,914 | $9,477 | $10,143 | $12,776 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Seattle is roughly $23,976 per year in rent alone - $1,428 more than in Los Angeles. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $102,189 in Los Angeles to match $100,000 in Seattle.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $91,210 in Seattle versus $87,950 in Los Angeles. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $189. Over five years, that’s $11,359 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Seattle is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Seattle has the purchasing power of about $122,627 in Los Angeles. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Los Angeles earns roughly $120,549 and in Seattle earns $182,976. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Los Angeles, that answer is harder.
Los Angeles vs Seattle: the numbers
| Metric | Los Angeles | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 114 | 111 | -2% |
| Median rent | $1,879 | $1,998 | +6% |
| Median home value | $879,500 | $912,100 | +4% |
| Median household income | $80,366 | $121,984 | +52% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Los Angeles has the same buying power as about $97,858 in Seattle. Going the other way, $100,000 in Seattle is like $102,189 in Los Angeles.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Los Angeles and Seattle.
Job market snapshot: Los Angeles vs Seattle
Highest-paying roles with available data. Median salary where BLS publishes one, otherwise the average - the median avoids skew from senior outliers, so it is preferred when present.
| Role | Los Angeles | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $165,030 | $169,500 | +3% |
| Software Developer | $153,560 | $167,030 | +9% |
| Data Scientist | $124,810 | $135,610 | +9% |
| Registered Nurse | $129,000 | $109,700 | -15% |
| Web Developer | $100,120 | $115,560 | +15% |
| Police Officer | $113,460 | $109,180 | -4% |
| Dental Hygienist | $99,629 | $111,147 | +12% |
Moving from Los Angeles to Seattle: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Los Angeles and Seattle are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Seattle.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.