Los Angeles vs New York Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of September 23, 2026, New York, NY has cleaner air than Los Angeles, CA — AQI 39 (Good) vs 60 (Moderate), a gap of 21 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. Los Angeles's reading is driven by PM2.5 and New York's by PM2.5.
Los Angeles, CA
Moderate
New York, NY
Good
Summary
New York has 21 points better air quality
New York has an AQI of 39 compared to 60
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5-Day Forecast Comparison
| Day | Los Angeles | New York | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 56 | AQI 30 | New York |