City comparison
Los Angeles, CA vs Miami, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Los Angeles, CA (113.6) and Miami, FL (114.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA goes as far as $100,500 in Miami, FL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $2,085 a month in Los Angeles, CA and $1,995 in Miami, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Los Angeles, CA than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.6% moving from Los Angeles, CA to Miami, FL ($124,085 → $113,356), while prices change by +0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.1% in real buying power.
- Los Angeles, CA: price level 113.6 (much pricier)
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Los Angeles, CA | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 113.6 | 114.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,519 in Miami | $99,484 in Los Angeles |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,085/mo | $1,995/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 34% | 30% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,850 | $48,640 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL |
Rent areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Los Angeles | Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 170.4 | 155.6 |
| Goods | 106.6 | 103.6 |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 97.2 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 109.1 |
| Overall | 113.6 | 114.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Los Angeles, CA → Miami, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
59 Fair offer
Miami, FL → Los Angeles, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 34% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
57 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Los Angeles, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Miami, FL is in Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL. The last column shows what a transfer from Los Angeles, CA to Miami, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Los Angeles, CA | Miami, FL | Real change, Los Angeles → Miami |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $65,735 | −9.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $79,533 | −9.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $95,326 | −9.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $113,356 | −9.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $133,953 | −9.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Los Angeles, CA | Miami, FL | Miami pay in Los Angeles dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,860 | $58,300 | $57,999 (−43.1%) |
| Software Developers | $160,920 | $132,650 | $131,966 (−18.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,360 | $80,920 | $80,502 (−14.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $135,560 | $91,380 | $90,909 (−32.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.