Cost of living: Cúcuta vs. Los Angeles
Thinking of moving to the US? Compare the cost of living in any city with your hometown.
Compare cities
Pick your hometown and the US city you're comparing it with.
)
)
)
)
At a glance
It's sprawling, so a car is close to essential — and that adds up. Sending money home? Ria makes it fast and secure.
Life in Los Angeles
Los Angeles fills a basin between the Pacific Ocean and the San Gabriel Mountains, a spread-out city shaped by its freeways. It is the oldest hub of film and television production, and its port is the busiest in the US by container volume. Olvera Street preserves the oldest part of the city, founded in 1781, and in 2020, 46.9% of residents were Hispanic or Latino.
)
)
)
)
)
)
The entertainment capital of the world.
Monthly breakdown
What everyday life costs in each city, side by side.
| Total |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $220 | $1,996 |
| Healthcare | $45 | $368 |
| Groceries | $150 | $471 |
| Utilities | $45 | $409 |
| Transit | $35 | $77 |
| Other | $110 | $526 |
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
Sources, updated September 2026: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities, 2024); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024; Consumer Price Index); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food Plans, July 2026); Federal Communications Commission (Urban Rate Survey, 2026); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Fair Market Rents, FY2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (weekly retail gasoline prices); official fare pages of each city's transit agency; Latin America: crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, used for reference.
Cost of living by US city
15 cities, ranked by monthly cost for one person
Money where you need it
Sending money doesn’t have to be complicated. With Ria Money Transfer, you get a reliable partner offering multiple payment methods, transparent fees, robust security, and versatile receiving options. Download the Ria app to make your first transfer!
Frequently asked questions
Is Los Angeles more expensive than Cúcuta?
For one adult, Los Angeles is 6.4× more expensive than Cúcuta: about $3,847 a month, compared with about $605 in Cúcuta.
What is the monthly cost difference between Cúcuta and Los Angeles?
About $3,242 a month for one adult: $3,847 in Los Angeles versus $605 in Cúcuta. Change the number of adults above to see your household's figures.
Which costs change the most between Cúcuta and Los Angeles?
Utilities shows the biggest jump: it costs 9.1× as much in Los Angeles as in Cúcuta.
How does rent compare between Cúcuta and Los Angeles?
A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,996 a month in Los Angeles and about $220 in Cúcuta. Rents exclude utilities.
Can a minimum-wage job cover the costs in Los Angeles?
A full-time minimum-wage job in Los Angeles ($18.42 an hour) pays about $3,193 a month before taxes. Typical costs for one adult there are about $3,847 a month. Add your income above to see what would be left each month.
How is the cost of living measured?
We add up typical monthly costs for one adult in six categories: housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending. U.S. figures are calculated from government data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD and the Energy Information Administration) plus transit agencies' published fares. Latin American figures come from crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, and their healthcare costs are a modeled estimate. Minimum wages are each city's local rate where it has one, otherwise the state rate published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Both cities' figures were last updated in 2026.
Related articles
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Immigrant stories
Real journeys from our community, in their own words.
The World We Share: A Migrant Family’s Journey Across Colombia, U.S., and Spain | Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer
The World We Share: Meet Yajaira | Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer
The World We Share: Meet Gina | Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer