Cost of Living: Los Angeles, CA vs San Marcos, CA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in Los Angeles, CA versus $3,974/mo in San Marcos, CA. In the model, rent is about 25.99% of gross in Los Angeles, CA versus 31.92% in San Marcos, CA, so Los Angeles, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Los Angeles, CA and San Marcos, CA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): San Marcos, CA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Los Angeles, CA
- Lower home prices: Los Angeles, CA
- Higher median household income: San Marcos, CA
Cost of Living Index
Los Angeles, CA: 148.6 (U.S. = 100) · San Marcos, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
San Marcos, CA has a lower cost-of-living index than Los Angeles, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Los Angeles, CA: $1,695/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · San Marcos, CA: $2,082/mo
Median rent in San Marcos, CA is $387/mo higher than in Los Angeles, CA.
Median Home Price
Los Angeles, CA: $657,700 · San Marcos, CA: $792,400
Median home price in San Marcos, CA is $134,700 higher than in Los Angeles, CA.
Median Household Income
Los Angeles, CA: $74,785 · San Marcos, CA: $105,286
San Marcos, CA has a higher median household income than Los Angeles, CA by $30,501.
Los Angeles, CA overview · San Marcos, CA overview · Popular comparisons