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Moving from California

Los Angeles, the Bay Area and San Diego lost 184,396 more residents to other US metros than they gained between July 2024 and July 2025 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025). Here is what the same home costs each month where they go.

By Sol Lakein. Updated October 2026.

Pick your California metro

What you would keep each month, leaving Los Angeles

Monthly principal and interest on each city's median listed home, against $5,685 for the median Los Angeles metro home.
Monthly payment thereFull bar = Los Angeles, $5,685/mo
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See all 38 cities as a table, with incentives
CityMedian listed homeMonthly paymentMonthly savings vs Los Angeles2-bedroom rentIncentive
Pittsburgh, PA$245,000$1,346$4,339$1,185
McAllen, TX$258,750$1,422$4,263$1,030
Columbia, SC$299,763$1,647$4,038$1,314
Spartanburg, SC$304,950$1,676$4,009$1,148
Indianapolis, IN$310,000$1,704$3,981$1,397$7,500 in benefits
El Paso, TX$314,987$1,731$3,954$1,100
Myrtle Beach, SC$315,000$1,731$3,954$1,383
San Antonio, TX$320,374$1,761$3,924$1,460
Greensboro, NC$327,000$1,797$3,888$1,218
Lakeland, FL$329,000$1,808$3,877$1,437
Houston, TX$353,995$1,945$3,740$1,562
Huntsville, AL$364,900$2,005$3,680$1,350
Melbourne, FL$369,775$2,032$3,653$1,755
Philadelphia, PA$374,950$2,061$3,625$1,723
Columbus, OH$374,950$2,061$3,625$1,528
Daytona Beach, FL$374,950$2,061$3,625$1,638
Jacksonville, FL$379,000$2,083$3,602$1,642
Fort Myers, FL$379,900$2,088$3,597$1,849
Greenville, SC$382,450$2,102$3,583$1,279
Tampa, FL$385,398$2,118$3,567$1,861
Chattanooga, TN$395,000$2,171$3,514$1,313
Savannah, GA$399,900$2,198$3,487$1,676
Orlando, FL$410,000$2,253$3,432$1,855
Atlanta, GA$415,000$2,281$3,404$1,781
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX$422,495$2,322$3,363$1,794
Charlotte, NC$424,950$2,335$3,350$1,589
Richmond, VA$439,925$2,418$3,267$1,684
Fayetteville (Northwest Arkansas), AR$441,000$2,423$3,262$1,232
Raleigh, NC$445,000$2,445$3,240$1,673
Austin, TX$446,450$2,453$3,232$1,836
Knoxville, TN$447,000$2,456$3,229$1,452
Sarasota, FL$457,450$2,514$3,171$1,975
Durham, NC$460,135$2,529$3,156$1,630
Wilmington, NC$471,489$2,591$3,094$1,658
Charleston, SC$479,450$2,635$3,050$1,817
Nashville, TN$533,995$2,935$2,750$1,666
Asheville, NC$575,000$3,160$2,525$1,492
Boise, ID$609,925$3,352$2,333$1,652

Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Home prices: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Median 2-bedroom rent in the Los Angeles metro: $2,328 (Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities)).

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Questions people ask

Where are Californians moving?

Census migration data shows the three big California metros each lost more residents to other US metros than they gained between July 2024 and July 2025. This page compares the destinations on our list on monthly housing cost, everyday prices and incentives.

How much cheaper is it to live outside California?

Los Angeles's everyday price level is 113.6 and its housing index 170.4, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). Every city in the table above sits lower on both.

What salary do I need outside California?

$150,000 in Los Angeles buys about the same as $129,648 in Raleigh, using BEA price parities for both metros (2024). Each city page shows this for your metro.

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