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Los Angeles, CA Rent Affordability Calculator

The median rent in the Los Angeles, CA area is $2,063 a month including utilities, which takes 26% of the median household income ($95,958). Paying it on 30% of income needs about $82,520 a year.

On $96,000 a year, 30% of income is $2,400 a month for rent. A $2,060 rent takes 25.8% of gross income; many landlords want income of 40 times the rent, $82,400.

Rent you can afford
$2,400 a month
That rent takes
25.8% of income
Income a landlord may ask for (40× rent)
$82,400

Rent you can afford in Los Angeles, CA by income (30% rule)

IncomeAffordable rentAgainst the median rent
$40,000$1,000−51.5%
$60,000$1,500−27.3%
$80,000$2,000−3.1%
$100,000$2,50021.2%
$150,000$3,75081.8%

How this calculator works

Median gross rent and median household income for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Affordable rent is 30% of gross monthly income.

What it assumes

  • Medians across all rentals, of every size and age; new listings usually ask more.

Questions people ask

What is the average rent in Los Angeles, CA?

The median gross rent is $2,063 a month, including utilities (Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What salary do I need to live in Los Angeles, CA?

To rent at the median on 30% of income, about $82,520 a year; many landlords ask for 40 times the rent, $82,520.

Is rent affordable in Los Angeles, CA?

The median rent takes 26% of the median household income there, within the 30% guideline.

How does the cost of living in Los Angeles, CA compare?

Overall prices are 13.6% above the US average, and housing 70.4% above (BEA, 2024).

Nearby and large metro areas

Related calculators

  • Rent Affordability CalculatorThe rent your income supports under the 30% guideline, what a given rent takes of your pay, and the income landlords often ask for, with median rents in large metro areas.
  • Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living CalculatorPrices in the Los Angeles, CA area are 13.6% above the US average, and housing 70.4% above (BEA, 2024). Compare a salary here with anywhere else.
  • Rent vs Buy CalculatorWhether buying or renting leaves you better off after the years you plan to stay, counting mortgage interest, tax, upkeep, selling costs and what a renter earns investing the down payment.

Sources

Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.