Los Angeles – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Los Angeles is famous for its entertainment industry and mild climate, but it is much more than just that. As one of the largest North American cities, it is home to a leading port, among the busiest in the United States. But how attractive is it for investors, talent, and visitors? How strong is its brand strength and reputation, according to leading rankings and indices?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global attractiveness
• Livability: how appealing for locals, visitors, and talent?

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Los Angeles 6^th, the same as the previous year, between San Francisco (5^th) and Shanghai (7^th). The city holds a strong standing in the following areas of competitiveness: Human Capital (10^th), Reputational & General (10^th), Business Environment (10^th), Infrastructure (15^th), and Financial Sector Development (9^th). It also performs very well in the following industry sectors: Professional Services (8^th), Government & Regulatory (10^th), Finance (12^th), Trading (3^rd), Investment Management (10^th), Insurance (7^th), Banking (9^th).

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Los Angeles ranks 6^th, a jump of 14 positions from the previous year. The city now sits between Singapore (5^th) and Boston (7^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Los Angeles 15^th, sitting between Berlin (14^th) and Chicago (16^th). Its strongest performances are 4^th for Google Search and 6^th for University.

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Los Angeles 8^th, falling two positions compared to last year’s publication. Moreover, it stands 42^nd in the Global Cities Outlook ranking, a jump of 13 positions from the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks Los Angeles 21^st overall, and: 17^th in terms of Economy, 3^rd in R&D, 27^th in Cultural Interaction, 44^th in Livability, 36^th in Environment, and 26^th in Accessibility. Moreover, Los Angeles ranks 10^th for Variety of Workplace Options, 5^th for Winners of Prizes in Science and Technology, and 4^th for Average Driving Speed.

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Los Angeles ranks 4^th globally, sitting between Paris (3^rd) and Sydney (5^th).

How Appealing for Talent, Visitors, and Locals?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Los Angeles 70^th, ahead of Prague (71^st), but below Atlanta (69^th). The same firm’s Cost of Living Ranking puts Los Angeles 11^th, comparable to Nassau (10^th) and Shanghai (12^th).

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Los Angeles ranks 28^th out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between Sydney (27^th) and Munich (29^th).

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Los Angeles 14^th overall, sitting between Glasgow (13^th) and New York (15^th). Its pillar rankings are the following: Planet 16^th, People 40^th, Profit 19^th. The city ranks highest on transport, education, Wi-Fi, public policy, connectivity, ease of doing business, green finance, and job quality.

Lastly, Los Angeles is home to some of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education ranking, UCLA ranks 18^th, and USC 74^th. The QS World University ranking positions UCLA 29^th while it does not include USC within its top 100.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles in our City Observatory.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of LA’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.