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- Here's the Minimum Salary To Live In Los Angeles Without Stress in 2025</p>
<p>Nicole SpectorJuly 1, 2025 at 5:01 AM</p>
<p>frankpeters / Getty Images</p>
<p>Los Angeles is the second largest city in the U.S. with an estimated population of almost 4 million. People relocate to L.A. from all over the world, drawn to the city's mild weather, laid-back vibes and job opportunities, particularly in the film and TV industries. A one-way plane ticket to L.A. may not be too much money, but setting up a decent life in the City of Angels is, for many, flat out unaffordable.</p>
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<p>A recent study by SmartAsset looked at 100 of the largest U.S. cities and, using 2025 data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, determined the minimum salary required to live "comfortably" in each. SmartAsset used the 50/30/20 budget rule as a framework for comfort: 50% of a household's income is allocated to necessities, 30% is for discretionary spending and 20% is for long-term goals. The study found that a comfortable life in Los Angeles is far from cheap. Let's dig in.</p>
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<p>A Comfortable Life in Los Angeles Is Far Costlier Than a Middle-Class Life -</p>
<p>Minimum salary for a single adult to live comfortably in L.A.: $115,690</p>
<p>Minimum salary for two parents with two kids to live comfortably in L.A.: $271,981</p>
<p>Even if you're single, you'll need to be clearing six figures to get by alright in Los Angeles, but a middle-class salary doesn't reach nearly that high. The median household income in Los Angeles is $79,701. Why is there such a disparity between what the middle class gets and what the middle class needs in order to not be living paycheck to paycheck?</p>
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<p>The Cost of Housing Is 132% Higher in Los Angeles</p>
<p>The biggest financial hurdle for most Angelenos is housing. The cost of housing in Los Angeles is 49% higher than the state average and 132% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe. Renting an apartment in Culver City, a Los Angeles area with an A+ grade on Niche will set you back $3,200 a month, on average.</p>
<p>The Cost of Transportation Is 36% Higher</p>
<p>A lot of people visit L.A. for the first time and say, "How is this a city? Everything is so spread out and the public transit sucks." They're not wrong. L.A. is infamous for its subpar public transit system. You can get around without a car (if you're a very capable walker or bicyclist), but driving is the way of life for most. Seventy-three percent of Angelenos drive to work and just 6.8% use public transit. Transportation expenses, which includes things like gas and maintenance, are 36% higher in L.A. than the national average, according to RentCafe.</p>
<p>Child Care Starting Costs Average $24.41 per Hour</p>
<p>Anywhere you live will be pricier with kids, but it'll be a lot pricier in Los Angeles. As of June 2025, the average starting cost of child care providers in Los Angeles is $24.41 per hour; the 40-hour weekly rate is $976 and the monthly (or 130 hours) cost is approximately $3,173, according to Care.com. Many families end up paying more for child care than they pay for their monthly rent or mortgage.</p>
<p>People Are Stuck in Low-Wage Jobs</p>
<p>Income and wealth inequality are rising across the U.S., and few cities flaunt this brutal reality as profoundly as Los Angeles, where unhoused people may find a shady spot just steps away from the front gate of a Hollywood mansion. In L.A., a lot of people are stuck in low-wage jobs. Young people, in particular, are struggling. A 2023 report by UCLA found that about 64% of California's young workers earned low wages and 60% reported difficulty affording their expenses.</p>
<p>Los Angeles has a lot to offer, but it's not all swaying palm trees and celebrity sightings. It's a tough city to get by in, and a far tougher one to be comfortable in.</p>
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<p>This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here's the Minimum Salary To Live In Los Angeles Without Stress in 2025</p>
Source: AOL Money
Source: AsherMag
Full Article on Source: Astro Blog
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