Ferndale, WA vs Los Angeles, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Los Angeles, CA has a modeled overall cost index 49.5% higher than Ferndale, WA.

Ferndale, WA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,770 / month
Los Angeles, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$2,660 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Ferndale, WA and Los Angeles, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $3,818/month in Los Angeles, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $195,820 in Los Angeles, CA

Regional cost estimates: Ferndale, WA uses Seattle, WA. Los Angeles, CA uses Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 49.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$3,818
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$45.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Ferndale, WA

Population:16K
Cost Index:
115.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$601K

Los Angeles, CA

Population:3899K
Cost Index:
173.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$885K

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Ferndale, WA

The Evergreen State

16K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 16K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Los Angeles, CA

The Golden State

3.9M
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Mediterranean

Notable Facts

  • •Entertainment capital of the world
  • •Major Pacific Rim trade center
  • •Diverse metropolitan area

Major Industries

EntertainmentTechnologyInternational TradeTourism

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ferndale, WA vs Los Angeles, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 69.6%
Ferndale, WA
$3,751
Los Angeles, CA
$6,360
Difference
$2,609
more
Transportation
↑ 68.7%
Ferndale, WA
$1,050
Los Angeles, CA
$1,771
Difference
$721
more
Other
↑ 30.0%
Ferndale, WA
$1,092
Los Angeles, CA
$1,421
Difference
$328
more
All Utilities
↑ 41.2%
Ferndale, WA
$324
Los Angeles, CA
$457
Difference
$133
more
Groceries
↑ 17.4%
Ferndale, WA
$727
Los Angeles, CA
$854
Difference
$127
more
Healthcare
↓ 18.1%
Ferndale, WA
$555
Los Angeles, CA
$455
Difference
$101
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,440
To$1,910
↑ $470
1 Bed
From$1,470
To$2,135
↑ $665
2 Bed
From$1,770
To$2,660
↑ $890
3 Bed
From$2,460
To$3,370
↑ $910
Ferndale, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,470–$1,470/mo

Los Angeles, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,630–$3,130/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Ferndale, WA
$11,318
Monthly in Los Angeles, CA
$3,818
Difference

Home Values

Ferndale
Los Angeles
$601K
Median Value
$885K
0%
YoY Change
↓ -3.4%
↑ +32.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +13.1%
$601K
Price Range
$531K - $3.01M

Homes in Los Angeles are 47% more expensive than Ferndale

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $10.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$886
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
7.1%
Rate difference

Ferndale, WA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Washington State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Los Angeles, CA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
California State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,530/month
$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Ferndale, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%
Property Tax:0.9%

Los Angeles, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Ferndale
Los Angeles
41 Good
Air Quality
80 Moderate
69.7%
Good Air Days
10.4%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌅
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
2 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
2 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days

Before moving from Ferndale, WA to Los Angeles, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Los Angeles, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ferndale, WA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Ferndale to Los Angeles moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Los Angeles, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ferndale, WA vs Los Angeles, CA

How do the cost estimates for Ferndale, WA and Los Angeles, CA compare?

Los Angeles, CA has a modeled overall cost index 49.5% higher than Ferndale, WA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Ferndale, WA, the model estimates $195,820 in Los Angeles, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Ferndale, WA and Los Angeles, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,770/month in Ferndale, WA and $2,660/month in Los Angeles, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Washington and California on TaxTakeHome.com

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