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City comparison

Los Angeles, CA vs Colorado Springs, CO

The cost gap between Los Angeles and Colorado Springs is the real story here. Colorado Springs comes in 40% cheaper on typical rent ($2,903 vs $1,735), which over a year adds up to $14,016. Median household income runs $76,244 in Los Angeles and $79,026 in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Los Angeles makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Colorado Springs is the stronger move.

The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,735 average has pockets that run $1,535 and others at $2,135: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.

Full Los Angeles reportFull Colorado Springs report

Los Angeles, CA

Rent
2,903/mo
Median income
76,244
Crime index
124
Schools
A-
Weather
84°F

Colorado Springs, CO

Rent
1,735/mo
Median income
79,026
Crime index
186
Schools
A-
Weather
76°F

Rent

40% cheaper

Colorado Springs rent is 40% cheaper than Los Angeles

Los Angeles

$2,903/mo

Colorado Springs

Winner

$1,735/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,903 in Los Angeles, so Colorado Springs is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $1,168/month back in your pocket ($14,016/year). Over five years that's $70,080 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Planning to buy in Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

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Median income

4% higher

Colorado Springs's median income is 4% higher than Los Angeles

Los Angeles

$76,244

Colorado Springs

Winner

$79,026

What this means for your life

Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs versus $76,244 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Colorado Springs (about $2,782 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

33% lower crime

Los Angeles's crime index is 33% lower than Colorado Springs

Los Angeles

Winner

124 (100 = avg)

Colorado Springs

186 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Los Angeles's crime index is 124 versus 186 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Los Angeles. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Los Angeles is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Los Angeles and Colorado Springs are about even on school scores.

Los Angeles

A- · 84/100

Colorado Springs

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Los Angeles, A- in Colorado Springs). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better. At this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

18% more comfortable

Colorado Springs weather is 18% more comfortable than Los Angeles

Los Angeles

84°F avg · 92°F highs · comfort 85/100

Colorado Springs

Winner

76°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100

What this means for your life

Los Angeles averages about 84°F (92°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 76°F (86°F highs). Los Angeles stays warm most of the year (around 84°F), so plan for AC bills and heat when you are outdoors. Colorado Springs sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs scores 18% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Los Angeles if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.

Fit check

Who should choose Los Angeles

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Colorado Springs (124 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Los Angeles report →

Fit check

Who should choose Colorado Springs

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% cheaper here at about $1,735 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 4% higher ($79,026), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Colorado Springs report →

Bottom line

Los Angeles vs Colorado Springs: Our Take

Colorado Springs wins overall on this comparison, taking 3 of the 5 categories against 1 for Los Angeles.

Colorado Springs's typical rent runs 40% lower than Los Angeles ($1,735/month vs $2,903/month), which is real money over a lease.

The main trade-off: Los Angeles posts a 33% lower crime index (124 vs 186, where 100 is the national average).

The decision comes down to whether you value cost of living more than safety. For most middle-income movers, Colorado Springs is the stronger choice.

Common questions

Los Angeles vs Colorado Springs FAQ

Is Los Angeles cheaper than Colorado Springs?
No. Colorado Springs is cheaper: typical rent is $1,735 a month versus $2,903 in Los Angeles (40% lower). Median household income is $76,244 in Los Angeles compared with $79,026 in Colorado Springs, so Colorado Springs has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Los Angeles or Colorado Springs?
Los Angeles is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 124 versus 186 in Colorado Springs (33% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Los Angeles or Colorado Springs?
School composites are close: A- in Los Angeles and A- in Colorado Springs. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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