City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Los Angeles and Toledo. Los Angeles averages 77°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,933 versus $934.
Los Angeles is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Los Angeles is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Toledo are 1,950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $934 a month in Toledo, down $999 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $62,224 in Toledo, down $19,715 (24%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 221 in Toledo, up 63 points (40%).
The move
Toledo and Los Angeles are 1,950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $999 a month (107%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $19,715 (32%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 158 in Los Angeles, down 63 points (29%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
52% cheaper
Toledo rent is 52% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Toledo is 52% cheaper. That's roughly $999/month back in your pocket ($11,988/year). Over five years that's $59,940 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, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 32% higher than Toledo
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Los Angeles (about $19,715 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, Los Angeles is the stronger labor market on paper. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 29% lower than Toledo
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Los Angeles
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Los Angeles scores 64% 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 Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 32% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 29% lower than Toledo (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 52% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Los Angeles runs $1,933/month while Toledo sits at $934 — roughly 52% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Los Angeles-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Los Angeles vs 36/100 in Toledo), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 36/100 in Toledo.
Between Los Angeles and Toledo, Toledo is ahead on housing cost — $934/month rent against $1,933. Lean Los Angeles instead when your $81,939 income offer in Los Angeles outweighs saving $999/month in Toledo.
Common questions
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