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Los Angeles closing cost calculator
Itemize the government transfer taxes on a Los Angeles-area condo purchase: the county documentary transfer tax plus the City of Los Angeles, Measure ULA, Santa Monica or Culver City tax where it applies.
Every rate comes from an official source listed below, with the date we checked it. Costs that vary by lender, company or contract are named but not estimated. Published by Eltherion, LLC. Methodology.
Your estimate
Enter the price and loan amount you are considering. Your entries are not submitted to us; they are kept in this page’s address so you can share the result.
Enter 0 for a cash purchase.
A mailing name or ZIP code can cross city limits. Confirm the jurisdiction on the property’s tax bill or title report.
Itemized estimate
Calculated items
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Complete the items marked “Needs input” to see a total.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County documentary transfer taxEnter the purchase price to calculate this line. [1][2] | Needs input |
| City transfer taxChoose the city or area the property is in. Some cities add their own transfer tax. [1] | Needs input |
| Title insurance premiumNot estimated. California has no single state-set rate; each title insurer files its own rates with the Department of Insurance, so compare quotes. [6] | Check |
| Government taxes | — |
The link includes the figures you entered, so anyone you send it to will see them.
Other costs to ask about
These vary by lender, company, association and contract, so we do not estimate them.
- Lender fees, points and prepaid interest
- Escrow or settlement fees
- Title search, examination, closing fees and endorsements
- County recording fees for each document
- HOA transfer, estoppel or move-in fees
- Real estate agent commissions
- Prorated property taxes, HOA dues and insurance
Who pays
Who pays each item is negotiable and varies by contract. Read the purchase agreement and ask your escrow or title company how the costs will be split.
For title insurance, the California Department of Insurance says the payer is determined by local custom and practice rather than by law, and that in Southern California the seller usually pays the title premium. It also says each title company files its own rates, so rates differ and comparing them can save money. California Department of Insurance: title insurance guide.
How it’s calculated
The county tax rounds the value up to the next $500, as in the County Recorder’s example. City of Los Angeles base tax uses the same rounding; Measure ULA is a percentage of the whole value once a threshold is crossed. Santa Monica applies one rate to the whole value, set by the value. Culver City uses marginal brackets with the city’s own published formula. California has no state-set title premium, so title insurance is marked “Check”.
This covers government taxes on the price and loan you enter. Exemptions, partial interests, assumed loans and other special cases are not modeled. Compare renting and buying, estimate monthly ownership costs or see how a special assessment changes the monthly cost.
Formulas
- Los Angeles County documentary transfer tax
ceil(price ÷ 500) × $0.55 (0 at $100 or less)- City of Los Angeles base tax
ceil(price ÷ 500) × $2.25- City of Los Angeles Measure ULA
price × 4% if $5,400,000 < price < $10,900,000 price × 5.5% if price ≥ $10,900,000For transactions closing after June 30, 2026. The rate applies to the whole price once a threshold is crossed.- Santa Monica documentary transfer tax
price ÷ 1,000 × rate; rate = $3.00 below $5,000,000, $6.00 below $8,000,000, $56.00 otherwise- Culver City real property transfer tax
base + (floor(price) − bracket start) × bracket rate brackets: from $0: 0.45%; from $1,500,000: 1.5%; from $3,000,000: 3%; from $10,000,000: 4%Uses the city’s own published base amount for each bracket.- Total
county tax + the city tax that applies (title insurance is not estimated)
Defaults and assumptions
| Item | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| City or area | None assumed; you choose it | Adjustable assumption: change it to match your situation. |
| Neighborhood → usual city | Optional starting point; confirm on the tax bill or title report | Source: Los Angeles City Planning: Community Plans (Brentwood, Downtown, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Venice, Westwood and others). Checked . |
| County transfer tax rate | $0.55 per $500 | Source: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Documentary Transfer Tax. Checked . |
| City of Los Angeles base rate and Measure ULA | $2.25 per $500; 4% / 5.5% above the thresholds | Source: City of Los Angeles Office of Finance: Real Property Transfer Tax and Measure ULA FAQ. Checked . |
| Santa Monica rates | $3.00 per $1,000 / $6.00 per $1,000 / $56.00 per $1,000 | Source: City of Santa Monica: Documentary Transfer Tax (Real Property Transfer Tax). Checked . |
| Culver City brackets | 0.45% / 1.5% / 3% / 4% | Source: City of Culver City: Real Property Transfer Tax. Checked . |
| Title insurance | Not estimated: California has no state-set rate | Source: California Department of Insurance: Title Insurance consumer guide. Checked . |
Estimates, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rates change; confirm every amount with your lender, escrow or title company, or attorney before you rely on it.
Read our methodology and editorial policy and corrections.
Common questions
What is the documentary transfer tax in Los Angeles County?
The county tax is $0.55 for each $500, or fraction, of the consideration or value conveyed, or $1.10 per $1,000. The County Recorder collects it when the deed is recorded, together with any special city tax.
How much is the City of Los Angeles transfer tax, including Measure ULA?
The City of Los Angeles base tax is $2.25 per $500, or 0.45%. For transactions closing after June 30, 2026, Measure ULA adds 4% of the whole value for sales above $5,400,000 and below $10,900,000, and 5.5% at $10,900,000 or more. The city adjusts these thresholds every year.
Do Santa Monica and Culver City charge their own transfer tax?
Yes. Santa Monica charges $3.00 per $1,000 below $5 million, $6.00 per $1,000 from $5 million to just under $8 million, and $56.00 per $1,000 at $8 million or more. Culver City charges marginal rates from 0.45% to 4%, and says its brackets change every five years with inflation. For Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, check with the city.
Is Marina del Rey in the City of Los Angeles?
No. Los Angeles County Planning describes Marina del Rey as an unincorporated area, so only the county transfer tax applies to property there. Mailing names and ZIP codes do not always follow city limits, so confirm the jurisdiction on the property's tax bill or title report.
Who pays transfer tax and title insurance in Los Angeles?
Who pays is negotiable and depends on the purchase contract. For title insurance, the California Department of Insurance says the payer is set by local custom and practice rather than law, and that in Southern California the seller usually pays the title premium.
Sources
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Documentary Transfer Tax. Checked .
- California Revenue and Taxation Code s. 11911 (county documentary transfer tax). Checked .
- City of Los Angeles Office of Finance: Real Property Transfer Tax and Measure ULA FAQ. Checked .
- City of Santa Monica: Documentary Transfer Tax (Real Property Transfer Tax). Checked .
- City of Culver City: Real Property Transfer Tax. Checked .
- California Department of Insurance: Title Insurance consumer guide. Checked .
- Los Angeles City Planning: Community Plans (Brentwood, Downtown, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Venice, Westwood and others). Checked .
- Los Angeles City Planning: Wilshire Community Plan area (includes Koreatown, Mid-City and Miracle Mile). Checked .
- Los Angeles City Planning: West Los Angeles Community Plan area (includes Century City). Checked .
- Los Angeles City Planning: Westchester – Playa del Rey Community Plan area (includes Playa Vista). Checked .
- Los Angeles County Planning: Community Profile, Unincorporated – Marina del Rey. Checked .