Living in Los Angeles: cost, climate, Chinese community & taxes

Los Angeles at a glance for newcomers — every number is from an official source.

Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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PriceyHigh rentExpensive homesWarm wintersBig Chinese communityGood transitLong commutesBig cityHigh state income taxIncomes don’t go farMild summersDry & sunnyFew tech jobsSmaller healthcare sectorSmaller business sector

💰 Money

Cost of living (US = 100): 113.6 (above average)
Median rent: $2,114/mo
Median home value: $909k
Median household income: $96k

🌤️ Climate

January average: 57.9°F 14°C
July average high: 75.1°F 24°C
Rain + snow (water) per year: 12.23 in
Days ≥ 90°F / ≤ 32°F: 5 / 0 days/yr

NOAA station: LAX (USW00023174), 1991–2020

🥟 People & community

Population: 12.9M
Chinese / Taiwanese: 4.6% ~595k
Asian: 17.4%
Bachelor’s degree+ (adults): 39.0%
Computer / engineering / science jobs: 6.8%

🚇 Getting around

Commute by transit: 3.5%
Drive alone to work: 67.0%
Work from home: 14.9%
Average commute: 31 min

🧾 Taxes

State income tax (top rate): 13.3% CA
Sales tax (state + avg. local): 9.03%

✈️ Flights to China

Nonstop from LAX to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen

United · Delta · Air China · China Eastern · China Southern · Xiamen Airlines · Sichuan Airlines

💼 Compare job offers after tax →

Sources