Kept

City vs city

Seattle vs Los Angeles

$100,000 in Seattle buys a lifestyle closer to $103,000 in Los Angeles, because Los Angeles's cost-of-living index is 149 versus 144.

Seattle

No state income tax, high wages, and high housing. Take-home stretches further than in California at the same salary.

COL index
144
Typical 1-bed
$2,300/mo
Comfortable salary
$122,000
$100k take-home
$79,180
Full Seattle guide

Los Angeles

Large, spread-out, and car-dependent. Housing and insurance push costs well above the US average.

COL index
149
Typical 1-bed
$2,550/mo
Comfortable salary
$127,000
$100k take-home
$73,957
Full Los Angeles guide

More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs Los Angelesvs San Diego