City comparison
No. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
New York is cheaper. Median rent is $1,821 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
New York and Los Angeles are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,821 in New York and $1,933 in Los Angeles, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $81,939. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. New York 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
New York and Los Angeles are 2,446 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $112 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $1,456 (2%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 158 in Los Angeles, down 11 points (7%).
The move
Los Angeles and New York are 2,446 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,821 a month in New York, down $112 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $80,483 in New York, down $1,456 (2%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 169 in New York, up 11 points (7%).
New York, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New York and Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
New York rent is 6% cheaper than Los Angeles
New York
Winner$1,821/mo
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Typical rent runs $1,821 a month in New York versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so New York is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $112, or $1,344 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 Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 2% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Los Angeles (about $1,456 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
7% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 7% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Los Angeles. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Los Angeles, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in New York. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Los Angeles
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Los Angeles scores 25% 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 New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New York
New York is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,821 a month. Choose New York if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 2% higher ($81,939), 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.
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 7% lower than New York (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.
Bottom line
Los Angeles runs 76°F typical weather against 58°F in New York (comfort scores 100 vs 80). Housing is $1,933/month versus $1,821/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $112 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,821 in New York and $1,933 in Los Angeles.
New York clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Los Angeles deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 76°F than optimize for New York's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Los Angeles when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Los Angeles, plus other cities in NY and CA.
