Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Berkeley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385
Los Angeles
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,472 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Homes cost $458k less ($822,600 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,067)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $28,472/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$28,472
$104,716 vs $76,244/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
12% lower
638.8 vs 728.5 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Los Angeles
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$458k less
$822,600 vs $1,280,300
Los Angeles
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 78.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $822,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Los Angeles is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Berkeley wins 11 and Los Angeles wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Berkeley to Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $822,600 median home), income ($104,716 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Los Angeles, CA are about 343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.