New York City vs Los Angeles
The short answer
Los Angeles is the cheaper trip, by roughly 16% a day — $110–220 against $130–260 mid-range per person. Meals run the other way, though: a cheap plate is $5–12 in New York City against $6–14 in Los Angeles. Both are at their best in Apr–May, Sep–Nov, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇺🇸 New York City | 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $130–260 | $110–220cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $5–12cheaper | $6–14 |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $220–400 | $180–320cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $2.90 | $1.75cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $5,800 | ≈ $5,200 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇺🇸 New York City
The city that never sleeps — Broadway marquees, a skyline you already know by heart, and a subway that gets you anywhere at 3am if you're patient.
- Please Don't Tell (PDT)$$$Nightlife
- Katz's Delicatessen$$Restaurants
- Radio City Music Hall$$$Theater & shows
- Employees Only$$$Nightlife
- Peter Luger Steak House$$$Restaurants
🇺🇸 Los Angeles
Palm trees, freeways, and the Hollywood dream factory — a sprawling patchwork of beach towns and neighborhoods that only really makes sense once you have a car (or a lot of patience).
- Skybar at Mondrian$$$Nightlife
- Musso & Frank Grill$$$Restaurants
- Hollywood Bowl$$Theater & shows
- No Vacancy$$$Nightlife
- Guelaguetza$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| New York City | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | English, though few cities on earth are more multilingual — you'll hear dozens of languages on any given subway car. | English, with Spanish widely spoken given LA's large Latino population — many menus and signs are bilingual. |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (ET), UTC-5 / UTC-4 with daylight saving | Pacific Time (PT), UTC-8 / UTC-7 with daylight saving |
| Power | Type A/B plugs, 120V — bring a converter if you're arriving from a 220V country | Type A/B plugs, 120V — bring a converter if arriving from a 220V country |
| Tap water | Safe to drink — NYC tap water is famously good, straight from upstate reservoirs | Safe to drink |
The same in both:
- Currency
- US dollar (USD/$)
- Emergency
- 911 police/fire/ambulance