Living in Los Angeles is more than just fun.
A recent survey indicates that residents of LA are experiencing greater dissatisfaction with life in the city than at any point in the last decade. The rising cost of living, education challenges, and transportation issues topped the complaints.
According to research from the UCLA Luskin School, overall quality of life for Los Angeles County residents has plummeted to a historic low of 52. This marks the worst outcome in the survey’s 11-year history from the Department of Public Affairs.
Six out of the nine measured categories also reached new lows, with eight categories showing a decline compared to last year.
“Education, transportation, and cost of living—these sectors, already rated poorly, have seen the steepest drops, increasing the strain on affordability and infrastructure,” noted the study.
Residents’ frustrations come amid significant financial challenges for the Los Angeles Unified School District. The district has opted to raise salaries for its employees even as student performance lags behind state averages and investigations into leadership are underway.
Mentioned by Zev Yaroslavsky, director of UCLA Luskin’s Los Angeles Initiative, were also elements like the increasing cost of living, immigration enforcement, and the repercussions of the Altadena and Palisades fires that have been heavy influences on daily life for many residents.
Yaroslavsky commented, “Quality of life ratings for LA County residents have declined since the high point during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Data revealed that over 26% of residents have suffered income loss due to wildfires, and around one in five has yet to recover fully. Dissatisfaction is widespread, with about 56% expressing discontent with local governments’ recovery efforts.
The survey was conducted with 1,400 Los Angeles County residents between March 15 and March 29, 2026, and carries a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.
