$290,382/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $964,934 home in Los Angeles, CA at today's 6.71% rate — about $6,776/mo. The local median household ($93,525) falls $196,857 short.
The math (shown)
964,934 price − 10% down (96,493) = 868,441 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.71% on 868,441 = 5,610/mo principal+interest
+ 1,166/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
6,776/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 24,199/mo → 290,382/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-07 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.71% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-09-03). Local median income: $93,525 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Los Angeles, CA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
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FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Los Angeles, CA?
To buy the typical home, about $290,382/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro (2026-07): $964,934.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.71% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-09-03).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.