Cost of living comparison
Palo Alto is 13.8% more expensive than Los Angeles.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.1% more in Palo Alto
- Groceries
-
pay 17.0% more in Palo Alto
- Transportation
-
pay 5.8% more in Palo Alto
- Housing
-
pay 31.2% more in Palo Alto
- Childcare
-
pay 41.8% more in Palo Alto
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 19.0% more in Palo Alto
- Clothing
-
pay 19.6% less in Palo Alto
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and restaurants in Palo Alto are more expensive than in Los Angeles.
If you lived in Palo Alto instead of Los Angeles, you would:
pay 1.1% more for restaurants
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$27.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$11.50
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.95
|
$3.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
|
$2.17
|
|
pay 17.0% more for groceries
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.99
|
$5.22
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.87
|
$8.45
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.56
|
$5.33
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.77
|
$5.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$7.25
|
$7.75
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.72
|
$3.30
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.05
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.66
|
$1.60
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.26
|
$3.00
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
|
$1.89
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.15
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 5.8% more for transportation
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.96
|
$4.85
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.13
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,499.50
|
$30,530.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.52
|
$18.41
|
|
pay 31.2% more for housing
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.71
|
$60.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,395.36
|
$3,397.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,100.61
|
$3,198.33
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.10
|
$213.87
|
|
pay 41.8% more for childcare
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,778.57
|
$2,705.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,750.00
|
$37,770.00
|
|
pay 19.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.46
|
$5.10
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.00
|
$11.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.41
|
$120.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$18.00
|
$15.99
|
|
pay 19.6% less for clothing
|
Los Angeles
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$58.46
|
$45.00
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.72
|
$36.12
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.30
|
$80.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$144.74
|
$117.22
|
|
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