Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 11 of 21 categories
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Homes cost $832k less ($822,600 vs $1,654,800)
6% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Rent averages $436/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,227)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $30,553/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 6.2%)
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,553 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 78°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
6% lower
728.5 vs 778.0 per 100k
Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$832k less
$822,600 vs $1,654,800
Los Angeles
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 78.0°F vs 69.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Monica
Median Income
$30,553
$106,797 vs $76,244/yr
Santa Monica
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 11 of 21 categories. Los Angeles wins 10 and Santa Monica 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 Los Angeles to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($76,244 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 5 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.