Los Angeles vs New York
New York leads Los Angeles by 7 points on the TRAIL Index, 80 to 73. Los Angeles grades better on 4 measures, New York on 8; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Los Angeles 73, New York 80
- OECD: Los Angeles 71, New York 81
- UN Tourism: Los Angeles 73, New York 81
- UNDRR: Los Angeles 64, New York 75
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Los Angeles 75, New York 90
- Economy and jobs: Los Angeles 100, New York 100
- Climate and hazards: Los Angeles 60, New York 75
- Water and environment: Los Angeles 56, New York 75
- Community and housing: Los Angeles 67, New York 75
- Access and continuity: Los Angeles 83, New York 75
Where Los Angeles is stronger
- Average length of stay: 3.6 nights per visitor (Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LATCB), Marketing and Planning Resource, 2018). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
- Tropical nights: 8.2 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
- Rent growth: -1.1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, Los Angeles Rent Report, September 2025–September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (City Administrative Officer, City of Los Angeles, Proposed Budget Blue Book, 2022–2024). Grade 4/4.
Where New York is stronger
- Largest foreign market: 8.5 % of international arrivals or nights (NYC Tourism + Conventions / Office of the Mayor of New York City, 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 84.2 % average annual occupancy (New York City Tourism + Conventions, 2025 Annual Report (via ILoveNY), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
- Extreme heat days: 4.4 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 404.6 kg per resident per year (NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Draft Solid Waste Management Plan 2026, 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
- Short-let density: 0.1 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (NYC Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement / U.S. Census Bureau 2024 ACS, June 2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (NYC Emergency Management, Office of the Mayor, 2024). Grade 4/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Los Angeles in full · New York in full
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