CostIndexUSA

Los Angeles, CA vs Worcester, MA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableMA
Worcester
102.5
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Worcester is moderately cheaper than Los Angeles — 9.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Los Angeles, you would need $72,200 in Worcester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing33.7%
Los Angeles
170.4
Worcester
113
🛒 Groceries9.0%
Los Angeles
106.6
Worcester
97
🚗 Transportation3.0%
Los Angeles
109.6
Worcester
106.3
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Los Angeles
99.1
Worcester
96.1
Utilities2.1%
Los Angeles
158.6
Worcester
155.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Worcester, MA
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in Worcester

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9023. 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×

Worcester, MA

Median Home Price
$461,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
113
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Los Angeles has 33.7% lower housing costs compared to Worcester.

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

Worcester, MA

Median Household Income
$94,100
Per Capita Income
$53,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
206,518
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceTechnology

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)

Worcester, MA
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.