Cost of living comparison: Los Angeles, CA vs Lake Havasu City, AZ

By Conexus MedStaff - Posted Oct 16, 2023

​Choosing where to work and live in the U.S. is a big decision. We’re here to help guide you through the process of selecting where to set down roots, so that you can get off to the best possible start in your new career as an international healthcare professional working in the United States.

One of the most important considerations when deciding where to work in the U.S. is the cost of living, which can vary substantially even between cities in the same state. It’s important to thoroughly research the cities you’re thinking about moving to.

Los Angeles, in California, is a city that people around the world are familiar with. As the home of Hollywood and setting of numerous U.S. TV shows and movies, it hardly needs any introduction. There are around 4 million people from all around the world living in Los Angeles, making it the second most populous city in the country after New York City. And it’s easy to see why people choose to live there: Los Angeles boasts beautiful beaches, a warm climate, stunning scenery with mountains, vineyards and more, and theme parks like Disneyland and Universal Studios. All of those attractions however come at a cost; Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the United States.

In comparison, Arizona’s Lake Havasu City offers an excellent standard of living at a fraction of the cost of Los Angeles. With warm summers and mild winters, the beautiful lake and mountain landscape around Lake Havasu City can be enjoyed all year round. There’s plenty to do, too. Lake Havasu City is known as the boating capital of the Southwest, with plenty of activities centered around the lake – including year-round kayaking, fishing, powerboating and more. If you prefer land-based fun, there are deserts and mountains to explore, hot springs to soak in, parks to wander through… and even the original London Bridge to walk across. Originally built in England’s capital in the 1830s, London Bridge was sold to an American businessman in 1967, who dismantled it to rebuild the bridge in Lake Havasu City. When you live here, you’re within easy reach of exciting destinations such as Phoenix and Las Vegas, within a few hours’ drive. And if you want to visit Los Angeles, it’s around five hours away by cr.

To give you a better understanding of how the cost of living varies between the two locations, this article provides a cost comparison between Los Angeles and Lake Havasu City.

Los Angeles, California, and Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Generally speaking, living in Lake Havasu City is around 15% cheaper than in Los Angeles. The cost of renting an apartment is significantly less at around half the price; in Lake Havasu City you can expect to pay around $1,543, versus $3,201 in Los Angeles. You’ll pay around 33% less for energy, too, which costs $147.65 in Lake Havasu City, and $219.60 in Los Angeles.

Below you’ll see examples of some common expenses and what they cost in each city.

There’s strong appeal for both Lake Havasu City and Los Angeles, but in terms of quality of life one definitely comes out above the other. With a more affordable cost of living in a community known for being friendly, family-focused and welcoming to newcomers, Lake Havasu City is our top choice for international healthcare professionals starting a new career in the U.S.

U.S. cost of living comparison for international healthcare professionals - Los Angeles, CA vs Lake Havasu City, AZ

Can I afford it?

  1. Work out your approximate monthly income (taking tax into consideration). Try not to rely on too much overtime pay – a good work-life balance is important for your well-being!
  2. Then, take away any non-negotiable expenses, such as health insurance costs and money put aside for emergency funds or savings.
  3. Write down the essentials you’ll need each month. These expenses will form the basis for a monthly budget. Include necessities such as rent, utilities, a cellphone, internet, groceries, and so on. You may want to purchase or hire a car, or you may need to pay for public transport to work and back. Shop around online todetermine how much these things may cost in your preferred city. You’ll also want to take into consideration less frequent purchases, such as buying clothes and scrubs, haircuts, leisure activities such as a visit to the movies and so on.
  4. Subtract your anticipated monthly costs from the figure in step 2. The amount you’re left with is your expendable income. This is what you can use for savings, to send money back home, for vacations – whatever you like.

You want your expendable income to be as high as possible for the best possible quality of life. If your preferred city of deployment is too expensive, then our experts will be able to suggest alternative locations where the cost of living is lower.

 

Can I choose where I work when I start my healthcare career in the U.S.?

We collaborate with healthcare organizations across the United States to provide opportunities for international nurses and medical technologists moving to the U.S., as well as nursing graduates on the F1 visa looking for OPT and Green Card sponsorship. Once you start working with Conexus MedStaff, we do everything we can to make sure you’re placed at a location that is a good fit for you.

To do this, we follow a placement process that takes your geographical preferences, career goals, acuity level, and other factors into consideration.

Learn more about our placement process.

 

How can I start working as a U.S. nurse or medical technologist?

We specialize in helping international nurses and medical technologists build a life and career they love in the United States. Getting started is simple: apply today, and someone from our team will be in touch with more information.

Source: Bankrate