Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash.
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If it feels like your rent, groceries, and random errands are quietly plotting against you, you’re not alone. New research from Plasma has ranked Los Angeles as the #4 U.S. city where the cost of living is rising the most. This new data puts it right behind New York, San Diego, and San Francisco.
In other words, being an Angeleno is getting more expensive by the month.
What’s driving the spike?
Plasma analyzed data from the 30 most populous U.S. cities, looking at inflation, rent, monthly expenses, salaries, and even how often residents are searching “cost of living” online. Los Angeles stood out as one of the cities where rising prices are outpacing paychecks.
Here’s what life in L.A. looks like right now:
Average rent for a one-bedroom in the city center: $2,562 Average monthly expenses (excluding rent): $1,378 Consumer Price Index (2025): 3.0% Average monthly salary (after tax): $4,654 Cost-of-living related searches: 14,800
When rent and everyday expenses are combined, many Angelenos are spending well over $3,900 a month just to cover the basics — before savings, emergencies, or the occasional matcha latte.
Photo by Igal Ness on Unsplash. High costs, not-so-Hollywood paychecks
While L.A. is known for its glamorous reputation, the numbers tell a more sobering story. The city’s average take-home pay hasn’t kept pace with rising housing costs, making it increasingly difficult for renters, especially young professionals, creatives, and service workers, to stay ahead.
With nearly 15,000 monthly searches tied to cost-of-living concerns, it’s clear that more residents are questioning whether the city is still financially sustainable.
The U.S. Cities Where the Cost of Living Is Rising the Most
These are the top 20 U.S. cities where the cost of living is increasing the fastest, based on inflation, rent, salaries, monthly expenses, and cost-of-living search trends:
New York, NY San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CA Seattle, WA Boston, MA Philadelphia, PA San Jose, CA Chicago, IL Baltimore, MD Portland, OR Denver, CO Las Vegas, NV Austin, TX San Antonio, TX Columbus, OH Indianapolis, IN Phoenix, AZ Houston, TX Jacksonville, FL
California dominates the list with multiple cities in the top ten. This reinforces what many residents already feel – the cost of living across the state continues to rise faster than incomes.
What does this mean for Angelenos?
If you’ve been wondering why your budget suddenly feels tighter, this might explain it. Los Angeles remains one of the most culturally influential cities in the world, but this latest research shows that affordability is becoming one of its biggest challenges.