City comparison
Safety is where Los Angeles and Denver split most clearly. Los Angeles scores 110 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,831 in Denver.
Denver 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 Denver is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Los Angeles has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Denver rent is 5% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Denver is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $102, or $1,224 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Denver's median income is 16% higher than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$81,939
Denver
Winner$94,718
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $81,939 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Denver (about $12,779 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Los Angeles can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 41% lower than Denver
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Denver
268 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 268 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Denver weather is 19% more comfortable than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
84°F avg · 93°F highs · comfort 84/100
Denver
Winner68°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 84°F (93°F highs); Denver averages about 68°F (77°F highs). Los Angeles stays warm most of the year (around 84°F), so plan for AC bills and heat when you are outdoors. Denver sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Denver scores 19% 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
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 41% lower than Denver (158 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver 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 16% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Los Angeles scores 46/100 versus 30/100 in Denver. Rent is $1,933/month in Los Angeles and $1,831/month in Denver, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Los Angeles vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $81,939 in Los Angeles.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Los Angeles; Denver only makes sense when you have walked the Denver ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Denver, plus other cities in CA and CO.
