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Cost & Benefits

Compare / Los Angeles to Riverside

Los Angeles, CA vs Riverside, CA

Simple answer

You'd likely save $861 a month in Riverside.

This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.

The largest cost gap in this pair is Fair Market Rent. The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap is $861: Los Angeles is higher at $2,964 versus $2,103.

California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in California. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in California.

Both metros are in California, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.

A $75,000 salary in Los Angeles lines up with about $70,295 in Riverside on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
$2,964
HUD area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
Census median gross rent
$2,114
All-items price parity
113.6
Goods price parity
106.6
Utilities price parity
158.6
Mean commute
30.7 min
Median household income
$96,405

Riverside

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
$2,103
HUD area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA
Census median gross rent
$2,006
All-items price parity
106.4
Goods price parity
101.4
Utilities price parity
148.6
Mean commute
34.2 min
Median household income
$91,013

Equivalent salary

The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.

Same buying power

$70,295

Salary in Riverside that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.

After state and federal tax

$69,084

Gross salary in Riverside whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.

Rent only

$53,214

Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.

Taxes on the two sides of the move

TaxCaliforniaCalifornia
State income tax on wagesup to 13.30%up to 13.30%
Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 20269.0%9.0%
Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median0.71%0.71%

On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $2,828 a year in California and $2,828 in California. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.

Benefits if you land in California

Los Angeles and Riverside are in California. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.

  • Food stamps (SNAP)

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • Medicaid and CHIP

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • WIC

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • School meals

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • LIHEAP

    Los AngelesMaybe

    RiversideMaybe

  • Earned Income Tax Credit

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • Child Tax Credit

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • Marketplace premium tax credits

    Los AngelesUnlikely

    RiversideUnlikely

  • Lifeline phone and internet

    Los AngelesLikely eligible

    RiversideLikely eligible

  • SSI

    Los AngelesUnlikely

    RiversideUnlikely

Medicaid guide for California · SNAP guide

Related comparisons

How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.