Los Angeles vs Plano Cost of Living
Plano is approximately 14.8% cheaper than Los Angeles. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Los Angeles, CA
Plano, TX
| Salary in Los Angeles | Equivalent in Plano | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,600 | -$7,400 (-14.8%) |
| $75,000 | $63,900 | -$11,100 (-14.8%) |
| $100,000 | $85,200 | -$14,800 (-14.8%) |
| $150,000 | $127,900 | -$22,100 (-14.7%) |
| $200,000 | $170,500 | -$29,500 (-14.8%) |
Los Angeles vs Plano: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, Plano is 14.8% cheaper than Los Angeles. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in Los Angeles, you'd spend approximately $4,262 for the same lifestyle in Plano. Or: $100,000 in Los Angeles ≈ $85,246 in Plano for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
California has state income tax, but Texas doesn't. Moving from Los Angeles to Plano eliminates state income tax — saving ~5% effective on income, or roughly $5,000/year on $100K.
What costs more (and less) in Plano
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. Plano's housing index (0.77×) compared to Los Angeles's (1.10×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from Los Angeles to Plano, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: -30% lower
- Groceries: -9% lower
- Transportation: -7% lower
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
Los Angeles Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Los Angeles. Plano Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Plano. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.