Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Los Angeles compared to Moreno Valley? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Los Angeles | Metric | Moreno Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 173 | Cost of Living Index | 122 | -29.5% |
| $860,000 | Median Home Price | $490,000 | -43.0% |
| $2,050 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,700 | -17.1% |
| $76,000 | Median Household Income | $72,500 | -4.6% |
| 0.7% | Property Tax Rate | 0.9% | +23.3% |
| 5.3% | Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | -1.9% |
| 32 min | Average Commute | 35 min | +9.4% |
| 36.4 | Median Age | 30.5 | -16.2% |
| 13,200,000 | Metro Population | 215,000 | -98.4% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Los Angeles costs $5,123/month (PITI) compared to $2,988/month in Moreno Valley — a difference of $2,135/month or $25,620/year. The price-to-income ratio is 11.3x in Los Angeles versus 6.8x in Moreno Valley, suggesting Moreno Valley is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 15.1 years to save a down payment in Los Angeles compared to 9.0 years in Moreno Valley.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Los Angeles | Moreno Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $76,000 | $72,500 |
| State Income Tax | $3,097 | $2,817 |
| Federal Income Tax | $8,169 | $7,399 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,814 | $5,546 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,278/yr | $4,410/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 7.2% | 7.2% |
| Total Tax Burden | $17,080 (22.5%) | $15,762 (21.7%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $58,920 | $56,738 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $17,080 in Los Angeles (22.5% effective) versus $15,762 in Moreno Valley (21.7% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $58,920 in Los Angeles and $56,738 in Moreno Valley. Property taxes add $6,278/year on the median Los Angeles home versus $4,410/year in Moreno Valley.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $76,000 in Los Angeles (COL 173) and relocate to Moreno Valley (COL 122), you would need $53,595 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $22,405 and still maintain your lifestyle in Moreno Valley.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Los Angeles is 32 minutes versus 35 minutes in Moreno Valley, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Moreno Valley's lower unemployment rate of 5.2% versus 5.3% suggests a stronger job market. Los Angeles skews slightly older with a median age of 36.4 vs 30.5 in Moreno Valley.
Los Angeles is 29.5% more expensive than Moreno Valley overall. Los Angeles has a cost of living index of 173 compared to 122 for Moreno Valley (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $860,000 in Los Angeles vs $490,000 in Moreno Valley.
The median home price in Los Angeles is $860,000, which is $370,000 more than Moreno Valley's median of $490,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,050/month in Los Angeles vs $1,700/month in Moreno Valley, a difference of $350/month or $4,200/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $76,000 salary in Los Angeles is equivalent to $53,595 in Moreno Valley. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Los Angeles's COL index of 173 vs Moreno Valley's 122. Conversely, $72,500 in Moreno Valley equals $102,807 in Los Angeles.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $17,080 (22.5% effective rate) in Los Angeles vs $15,762 (21.7% effective rate) in Moreno Valley. Property taxes on the median home are $6,278/year in Los Angeles (0.7% rate) vs $4,410/year in Moreno Valley (0.9% rate). Sales tax rates are 7.2% in California and 7.2% in California.
Los Angeles median household income: $76,000/yr. Moreno Valley median household income: $72,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,050 in Los Angeles vs $1,700 in Moreno Valley. Annualized that is $24,600 vs $20,400.
Moreno Valley offers a lower cost of living (index 122 vs 173), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Los Angeles typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Los Angeles and Moreno Valley numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Los Angeles vs Moreno Valley cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .