Los Angeles - CA vs Boston - MA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Los Angeles - CA is roughly 31% more expensive than Boston - MA in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Los Angeles - CA (26 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Los Angeles vs Boston: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $5,262 a month in principal and interest in Los Angeles and $4,019 in Boston, a gap of $1,243 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,929 in Los Angeles and $2,987 in Boston, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.8 times rent in Los Angeles and 1.3 times rent in Boston, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 27.0 years of rent in Los Angeles and 20.2 in Boston; the lower ratio in Boston means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -0.2% in Los Angeles and +3.0% in Boston; over just the last three months the change was +0.3% in Los Angeles and +0.6% in Boston.

Homes sell for 99.9% of list price in Los Angeles and 101.3% in Boston, after 26 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 24% and 24% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Los Angeles.

The number of homes for sale is down 0% on a year ago in Los Angeles and up 14% on a year ago in Boston.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.