Household Budget
🌴 California · BLS metro data

The Los Angeles household budget

Based on median net household income ~$5,800/month in the LA metro area (BLS 2023) · 🚇 Car-dependent — Metro Rail exists but coverage is limited Adjust any category below, then export to PDF or Excel — free.

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Los Angeles household budget breakdown

The average Los Angeles household takes home approximately 5,800 USD per month after taxes. Housing is typically the largest expense, accounting for around 35% of net income. The top spending categories are housing (35%), transport (14%) and food & groceries (12%). Financial guidelines recommend saving at least 7% of monthly income to build an emergency fund and long-term financial security. Use this free budget template to enter your own income, adjust each category to match your lifestyle, and export your personalised plan to PDF or Excel.

Based on BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey — Los Angeles metro area.

Frequently asked questions

What is a typical monthly household budget in Los Angeles, California?▾
Based on official spending data, a typical household in Los Angeles, California spends around $ 5,800/month. The largest expenses are housing, transport, food & groceries. Use the budget tool above to personalise these figures to your income.
How much of my income should I spend on housing in Los Angeles, California?▾
The guideline for Los Angeles, California is to spend around 35% of your monthly net income on housing costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance). On an income of $ 5,800/month, that works out to about $ 2,030/month.
What is a realistic grocery budget in Los Angeles, California?▾
A typical household in Los Angeles, California spends around 12% of monthly income on food and groceries — roughly $ 696/month based on average incomes. This covers supermarket shopping but not dining out, which is tracked separately.
How much does transport cost per month in Los Angeles, California?▾
Transport typically accounts for 14% of a household budget in Los Angeles, California, or about $ 812/month. This includes car ownership, fuel, parking, and public transit.
How much should I save each month in Los Angeles, California?▾
Financial guidelines for Los Angeles, California recommend saving 7% of your net monthly income — about $ 406/month at the average income level. This covers emergency funds, retirement contributions, and investments.
Is Los Angeles expensive to live in (Los Angeles city)?▾
Los Angeles, California has an average net household income of $ 5,800/month. The biggest cost drivers are housing and transport. Use the budget builder above to see a full breakdown and compare it with other countries.