Salary comparison
Software Developers: Los Angeles vs New York
New York, NY pays about 3.7% more for software developers on paper — $166,830 vs $160,920. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, New York comes out ahead by $5,910 a year in real buying power.
Los Angeles, CA
$160,920
$127,530
$191,540
$77.37
100
$160,920/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
New York, NY
$166,830
$130,650
$205,970
$80.21
100
$166,830/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $5,910 a year (3.7%) in favor of New York. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Los Angeles runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; New York sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, New York is the better deal by $5,910 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Los Angeles to New York for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.7% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do software developers earn more, Los Angeles or New York?
New York pays $166,830 on median — about 3.7% more than Los Angeles ($160,920). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
New York. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, New York gives you roughly$166,830 of real buying power versus $160,920 in the other city.