How much rent can you afford in Los Angeles, CA?
Run your salary against Los Angeles's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Los Angeles
At a median rent of $2,773/mo, Los Angeles is stretched for most renters when measured against Los Angeles median household income of $81,939/yr. Rent would consume roughly 41% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $110,920 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Los Angeles compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Los Angeles?
On a $81,939 salary (the Los Angeles median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,048/mo. Los Angeles's median rent is $2,773/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Los Angeles?
To keep Los Angeles's $2,773/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $110,920/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Los Angeles affordable on the median California income?
Los Angeles is stretched for most renters on a $81,939 income. Rent would take 41% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".