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Los Angeles or New York? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick New York if you want a walkable city where museums, theatre, food and nightlife are a subway ride apart, and you can live without a beach. Pick Los Angeles if you want sunshine most of the year, beaches and hiking, and you are happy to drive. By our mid-range figures New York is the cheaper of the two (about €281 a day against €322), mainly because you skip the car.
Los Angeles: suits couples and friends who want beaches, mountain hikes, Mexican and Korean food and a mild winter, and who don't mind driving.
New York: suits first-timers, solo travellers and anyone who wants to walk out the door into museums, Broadway and late-night food without a car.
Side by side
| Los Angeles | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €324 US$365 local | €284 $319 local |
| Budget day* | €156 | €156 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●Hotels, car hire, parking and tips push costs highest here. | ●●●●●Hotels are expensive, but walking and cheap slices help. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Spread out, so crowds bunch only at Hollywood, Santa Monica and the Getty. | ●●●●●Midtown, Times Square and the big museums are packed most of the year. |
| Food | ●●●●●Tacos, birria and Koreatown barbecue are as good as anywhere in the country. | ●●●●●Pizza slices, bagels, pastrami and Flushing dumplings, at every price level. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Good bars and clubs, but spread out and closing earlier. | ●●●●●Bars, live music and food open past midnight in most neighbourhoods. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Beaches, Griffith Observatory and theme parks; driving with kids is simple. | ●●●●●Great museums and parks, but crowded subways and small hotel rooms. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●You realistically need a car or many rideshares; distances are long. | ●●●●●24-hour subway and a walkable grid; no car needed. |
| Best months | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov, Dec | May |
| Warmest / coolest | Jul 31°C / Jan 19°C | Jul 30°C / Jan 5°C |
| Known for | Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Getty Center, Hollywood Sign | Empire State Building, Broadway shows, Brooklyn Bridge, world-class museums |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Los Angeles and New York day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Los Angeles if…
- you want beaches and winter sun (January highs are still about 19°C)
- you like hiking, with Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Mountains close by
- Mexican and Korean food are your priority
- you are comfortable driving freeways and planning around traffic
Pick New York if…
- you don't want to drive or rent a car
- Museums, Broadway and neighbourhood walks are the main event
- you want nightlife that runs well past midnight
- you are travelling around May, when the weather suits long walking days
Weather month by month
| Month | Los Angeles high / rainy days | New York high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19°C · 7 | 5°C · 11 |
| Feb | 21°C · 3 | 6°C · 11 |
| Mar | 21°C · 8 | 11°C · 10 |
| Apr | 24°C · 2 | 16°C · 11 |
| May | 24°C · 2 | 21°C · 9 |
| Jun | 28°C · 2 | 26°C · 11 |
| Jul | 31°C · 1 | 30°C · 14 |
| Aug | 31°C · 1 | 29°C · 14 |
| Sep | 30°C · 2 | 25°C · 11 |
| Oct | 27°C · 1 | 19°C · 10 |
| Nov | 24°C · 3 | 12°C · 8 |
| Dec | 19°C · 9 | 9°C · 11 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Los Angeles
Tacos al pastor and carne asada · Birria tacos · Korean barbecue · French dip sandwich · Pastrami on rye · Thai boat noodles and street dishes
Where: Grand Central Market (Downtown), Koreatown, Boyle Heights and East LA, Original Farmers Market (Fairfax)
New York
New York slice · Bagel with cream cheese · Pastrami on rye · Halal cart chicken and rice · Dumplings and roast pork buns · Cannoli
Where: Chinatown and Little Italy (Manhattan), Lower East Side and Essex Market, Chelsea Market, Flushing (Queens)
Doing both in one trip
10 days: 5 in New York + 5 in Los Angeles
Start in New York while you have energy for long walking days, then slow down with beaches and driving days in LA. Book open-jaw flights (into one city, out of the other) to avoid backtracking.
Getting between them: They are almost 4,000 km apart, so combining them only makes sense on a longer trip. Fly: about 5 h 30 to 6 h non-stop from New York to LAX, plus airport time, so allow most of a day. Distance about 3,936 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–5: New York — Manhattan museums, Brooklyn Bridge on foot, a Broadway show, Flushing and Chinatown for food
- Day 6: Fly to LA, pick up a car, sunset at Santa Monica Pier
- Day 7–10: Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, Koreatown and East LA for food, a beach day in Malibu or Manhattan Beach
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Common questions
Is Los Angeles or New York cheaper?
By our mid-range estimate New York is cheaper: about €281 per person per day against roughly €322 in Los Angeles. Hotels are expensive in both, but in LA you add car hire, parking and fuel or frequent rideshares, while in New York a subway pass and walking cover most trips. Budget travellers will find the gap narrower; both rank among the most expensive cities in the US.
Do I need a car in Los Angeles?
For most visitors, yes. The Metro rail and bus network connects Downtown, Hollywood, Koreatown and Santa Monica, but the city is huge and many beaches, viewpoints and trailheads are far from stations. If you stay in one area, rideshares can work; otherwise a rental car saves hours. Expect heavy traffic at rush hour and paid parking at most attractions.
When is the best time to visit each city?
Los Angeles is pleasant most of the year: January highs are around 19°C and summer inland reaches the low 30s, with grey mornings at the coast in early summer. New York is at its best around May; July is hot and humid at about 30°C, and January highs sit near 5°C, with occasional snow.
Which is better for a first trip to the US?
New York, for most people. You can see a lot in five days without a car, the sights are close together and the subway runs all night. Los Angeles suits a second visit, or travellers who already know they want beaches, road trips and outdoor time. With ten days or more, fly between them and do both.