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Los Angeles vs Raleigh cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Los Angeles
๐บ๐ธ Raleigh
At a glance
- Where Raleigh is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (76%โ), Entry ticket (36%โ), Beer (33%โ)
- Where Los Angeles is clearly cheaper: Laundry (33%โ), Street food (21%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Raleigh is easier to travel (1.6 vs 2.0). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Los Angeles 2 vs Raleigh 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Los Angeles | Raleigh | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 18$18 | $ 18$18 | similar |
| Street food1 item | $ 11$11 | $ 14$14 | Los Angeles โ21% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 48$48 | $ 40$40 | Raleigh โ17% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 6$6 | Los Angeles โ8% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 9$9 | $ 6$6 | Raleigh โ33% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 17$17 | $ 13$13 | Raleigh โ24% |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | $ 2$2 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 3$3 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Raleigh โ17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 18$18 | $ 14$14 | Raleigh โ22% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 10$10 | $ 10$10 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 1.75$1.75 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Raleigh โ29% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 35$35 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 200$200 | $ 140$140 | Raleigh โ30% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 2,100$2,100 | $ 1,400$1,400 | Raleigh โ33% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 6$6 | Los Angeles โ33% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 26$26 | $ 30$30 | Los Angeles โ13% |
| Haircutcut | $ 30$30 | $ 30$30 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | $ 75$75 | $ 80$80 | Los Angeles โ6% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 75$75 | $ 18$18 | Raleigh โ76% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 28$28 | $ 18$18 | Raleigh โ36% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Los Angeles or Raleigh?
Raleigh is 23% cheaper than Los Angeles. Daily budget $368 vs $286; a month $7,222 vs $5,451.
Which is easier to travel, Los Angeles or Raleigh?
Raleigh is easier: Raleigh 1.6/5 vs Los Angeles 2.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Los Angeles and Raleigh?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Los Angeles is about $7,222 and Raleigh about $5,451 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.