Los Angeles vs Santa Monica
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $921,200 in Los Angeles and $1,755,500 in Santa Monica.
- Households earn more in Santa Monica ($114,885 vs $81,939 median).
- Los Angeles has more scorching days: 26 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 5.
- Los Angeles is growing faster: -0.8% since 2020 vs -3.2%.
- Commutes are shorter in Santa Monica (25 vs 31 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Los Angeles, CA | Santa Monica, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 3,869,089 | 90,082 |
| Growth since 2020 | -0.8% | -3.2% |
| People per square mile | 8,223 | 10,713 |
| Median age | 37.2 | 42.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39% | 71% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $81,939 | $114,885 |
| Median home value | $921,200 | $1,755,500 |
| Home value to income | 11.2× | 15.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,933 | $2,402 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 170.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $85,200 |
| Homeowners | 36% | 28% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 30.7 | 24.8 |
| Work from home | 20% | 38% |
| Take public transit | 6% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.2% | 6.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 11.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 68° / 49° | 66° / 49° |
| July high / low | 82° / 65° | 75° / 63° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 13 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 26 | 5 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 12 | 12 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | 11% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +31.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Los Angeles: January to December. Santa Monica: January to December.
Full monthly tables: Los Angeles weather by month and Santa Monica weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in Los Angeles and $85,200 in Santa Monica. Moving from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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