Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

Cost of Living Comparison

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,953
Rent (2BR) -$31,212
Net Income $28,835

To match your lifestyle in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, you'd need:

$95,035

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale 173.0
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 213.0
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale $16,669
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara $8,570

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,953
Rent (2BR) -$41,796
Net Income $18,251

To match your lifestyle in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, you'd need:

$51,651

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $10,584 more per year in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale compared to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, while housing costs 34% more. The cost of living in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale is 73% above avg, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is 113% above avg, making Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale feels like earning $95,035 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($21,053 vs $14,833 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Schools
2,529
396
Enrollment
1,973,265
282,880
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
2.9%
5%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Institutions
257
25
In-State Tuition
$21,053
$14,833
Out-of-State
$24,543
$20,736
Grad Rate
65.1%
60.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale or San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara more expensive?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is more expensive with a cost of living index of 213.0 vs 173.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara equals $70,000 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale?

You would need to earn approximately $95,035 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $31,212 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale and $41,796 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara—housing is 34% more in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.