Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 13 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
6% less violent crime than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,791 vs $1,945)
Homes cost $57k less ($822,600 vs $879,900)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $39,824/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $39,824 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
6% lower
728.5 vs 775.1 per 100k
Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$57k less
$822,600 vs $879,900
Seattle
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Seattle
Median Income
$39,824
$116,068 vs $76,244/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 734,603 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Seattle is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 13 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 13 and Seattle wins 10. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $879,900 median home), income ($76,244 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA are about 962 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.