Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 13 of 21 categories
Los Angeles
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $14,921 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($347,100 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $472/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,791)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Los Angeles by $14,921/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$14,921
$76,244 vs $61,323/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
19% lower
728.5 vs 897.1 per 100k
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$476k less
$347,100 vs $822,600
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 13 of 21 categories. Los Angeles wins 13 and San Bernardino wins 8. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $347,100 median home), income ($76,244 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.