CostIndexUSA

Los Angeles, CA vs Olympia, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

Olympia is moderately cheaper than Los Angeles — 8.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Los Angeles, you would need $73,000 in Olympia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing31.5%
Los Angeles
170.4
Olympia
116.7
🛒 Groceries1.5%
Los Angeles
106.6
Olympia
105
🚗 Transportation4.7%
Los Angeles
109.6
Olympia
104.4
🏥 Healthcare4.6%
Los Angeles
99.1
Olympia
94.5
Utilities42.2%
Los Angeles
158.6
Olympia
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Los Angeles to see what you'd need to earn in Olympia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Olympia, WA
$73,000
$7,000 less needed in Olympia

Formula: salary × (103.7 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9129. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Home Price
$944,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.4×

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Los Angeles has 31.5% lower housing costs compared to Olympia.

Income & Job Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
3,979,576
Top Industries
EntertainmentTechnologyHealthcareLogisticsReal Estate

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Los Angeles, CA
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% of income left after rent (median)

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.