Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,301 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Homes cost $431k less ($391,500 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,791)
72% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.4%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $18,301/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$18,301
$76,244 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
72% lower
206.6 vs 728.5 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$431k less
$391,500 vs $822,600
Provo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 10 and Provo wins 13. 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 Los Angeles to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $391,500 median home), income ($76,244 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Provo, UT are about 569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.