TL;DR — Is LA a smart colo market?
- Great fit if: you need premium network density, direct cloud on-ramps, and low-latency routes to Asia-Pacific. (US English)
- You’ll pay a premium: Primary-market colocation averages ~$163/kW/mo (250–500 kW wholesale). Downtown LA and One Wilshire often trend above that for smaller retail footprints. (Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
- Cheaper alternatives: Phoenix/Dallas frequently land 20–30% lower on $/kW thanks to power pricing and capacity. (Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
Why QuoteColo (we make LA colo simple)
- Vendor-agnostic: 500+ vetted providers nationwide; we’re your independent matchmaker.
- Precision matching: we filter by power, density, building, carriers, compliance, budget.
- Verified quotes fast: you get side-by-side pricing, terms, and MMR fees in your inbox—usually within an hour.
- Real savings: clients often save 15–30% via competitive bids and right-sized commits.
- No cold calls, no obligation: our service is free; you stay in control.
What you’ll receive from us
- Shortlist of LA facilities that fit (DTLA vs El Segundo vs Burbank)
- Quote matrix (kW, RU, A/B power, x-connects, bandwidth model, SLA, term)
- Notes on trade-offs (interconnect density vs $/kW, remote hands policies, growth headroom)
Option B recommendations if LA isn’t optimal (e.g., Phoenix for cost, Bay Area for proximity to NorCal team)
Honest Price Overview (What the market is doing now)
- North American primary-market benchmark: ~$163/kW/mo (250–500 kW deals). Smaller retail racks cost more per kW. (Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
- LA retail reality: you’ll typically see $140–200+ per kW/mo depending on density, redundancy, and building (e.g., One Wilshire vs El Segundo). Downtown carrier hotels tend to command the highest rates due to interconnection value. (US English, CoreSite, Digital Realty)
- Why LA prices run hot: premium interconnection to U.S.–APAC routes and cloud ecosystems; higher local power costs than secondary markets. (US English, Brightlio – Technology Iluminated, Solar)
Note: We’ll send provider-verified quotes so you can compare apples-to-apples (power commit, x-connect fees, 95th percentile vs flat bandwidth, remote hands, term).
LA Market Map — Where to land & why
Downtown / One Wilshire (624 S Grand Ave)
The historic carrier-hotel with dense meet-me rooms; unmatched interconnection for carriers, CDNs, and trans-Pacific paths. Best when network gravity outweighs price. (CoreSite, Colocation America, carrierhotels.net)
El Segundo / LAX Corridor
Enterprise-friendly, strong connectivity, often better space/power economics vs DTLA. Good balance of latency and TCO. (Digital Realty)
Burbank / Media Alley
Close to studios and media workflows; practical for post-production, rendering, and content delivery chains. (Digital Realty)
Torrance & Greater LA Metro
Additional options (including Equinix) for distribution and peering with cost control. (US English)
Popular Providers Snapshot (LA footprint)
- Equinix (LA1/LAx metro: DTLA, El Segundo, Torrance) — Dense carrier mix, cloud on-ramps, Asia-Pacific gateway. (US English)
- CoreSite (LA1 @ One Wilshire; LA2/LA3 tethered) — Iconic One Wilshire presence; hundreds of providers and dark-fiber campus. (CoreSite)
- Digital Realty (LAX10 DTLA, LAX11 El Segundo, BUR10 Burbank, LAX12 El Segundo) — Large, cloud-neutral inventory across the metro. (Digital Realty)
- DataBank (LAX1 @ One Wilshire) — Retail colo with strong compliance set (SSAE 18, HIPAA/HITECH, PCI, ISO 27001). (DataBank | Data Center Evolved)
- Evocative (LAX campus) — Enterprise colo & interconnection with long-time LA presence. (Evocative Data Centers)
- QuadraNet (530 W 6th St) — Large DTLA footprint within Telecom Center LA. (Data Center Map, Data Centers)
- Colocation America (One Wilshire + other DTLA buildings) — Retail colo and carrier access across several DTLA sites. (Colocation America)
Common Configurations & Ballpark Ranges (Retail Colo)
Ranges are directional. Exact quotes vary by building, density, redundancy, term, and cross-connects.
| Configuration | Typical Power | What You Get | LA Ballpark* |
| 1U–2U single server | 1–2A @ 120V | 1 IP block, shared bandwidth, basic remote hands | $60–$100+ / mo (ColoCrossing) |
| ¼–½ Cabinet | 2–4 kW | Dedicated lockable space, metered power, burstable bandwidth | $600–$1,500+ / mo |
| Full 42U Cabinet (N) | 3–5 kW | Private rack, A feed, 1–2 x-connects | $1,200–$2,500+ / mo (ColoCrossing) |
| Full 42U Cabinet (N+1 / A+B) | 6–10 kW | Dual power feeds, higher uptime target, more x-connects | $2,000–$5,000+ / mo |
| Caged Row | 20–100 kW | Multi-rack, private cage, custom power & security | Custom / quote |
*Benchmarks shown align with current LA retail quotes and public guides; wholesale 250–500 kW deals tend to align with primary-market averages. (Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
Connectivity & Cloud (Why DTLA still wins)
- Carrier-neutral density: One Wilshire + DTLA gives you the richest meet-me ecosystem in the region. (CoreSite, carrierhotels.net)
- Cloud on-ramps: Direct access to major clouds and interconnect fabrics across Equinix / Digital Realty / CoreSite metros. (US English, Digital Realty)
- Trans-Pacific routes: LA is a strategic meeting point for U.S.–Asia traffic; if APAC latency matters, LA’s hubs help. (US English)
LA vs. Secondary Markets (Cost & Fit)
| Factor | Los Angeles (DTLA / LAX) | Phoenix / Dallas |
| Price per kW (retail) | Higher (premium for interconnection & location) | Lower on average |
| Power costs | Higher local utility rates | Lower power costs (Phoenix example) |
| Network density | Very high (One Wilshire + carrier hotels) | Good, less dense |
| Asia-Pacific latency | Best U.S. West options | Typically higher |
| When to choose | Media/CDN, trading, APAC, cloud interconnects | Cost-sensitive, high power budgets |
Sources: Equinix LA metro; One Wilshire ecosystem; Phoenix power/price context. (US English, carrierhotels.net, Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
How to Choose a Colocation Provider in LA (5-point checklist)
- Right-size power & density: commit on kW, not just RU. Validate breakers, receptacles, and A/B feeds for your load (standard vs high-density/GPU).
- Interconnection plan: list carriers, IXPs, cloud on-ramps, and x-connect costs (copper/fiber, MMR policy).
- Bandwidth economics: 95th percentile vs flat/unmetered; commit rates; DDoS and burst behavior.
- Resiliency & ops: target SLA, N vs N+1 vs 2N, generator hours, maintenance windows, remote hands SLAs.
- Compliance & security: SOC 2/SSAE 18, ISO 27001, PCI/HIPAA as needed; access control & escort policy. (DataBank example: SSAE 18, HIPAA/HITECH, PCI, ISO 27001.) (DataBank | Data Center Evolved)
Strategic Advantages of Los Angeles Colocation
- APAC Gateway: optimal peering to Asian markets via LA carrier hotels. (US English)
- Media & Entertainment Core: proximity to studios and post-production pipelines (DTLA/Burbank). (Digital Realty)
- Silicon Beach adjacency: tech ecosystem gravity from Santa Monica/Venice to El Segundo. (Digital Realty)
- Campus optionality: DTLA for interconnection, El Segundo for cost balance, Burbank for media workflows. (Digital Realty)
Summary Comparison Table
| Feature | LA Colocation | U.S. Secondary Markets |
| Average price/kW | $140–200+ / kW/mo (retail ranges) | $110–150 / kW/mo (typical) |
| Rack pricing | 1U from ~$60–100/mo; full rack $1,200–$5,000+ | Often 20–30% lower |
| APAC latency | Excellent (trans-Pacific hubs) | Higher vs LA |
| Network density | Very high (One Wilshire, DTLA) | Good, less dense |
| Best for | Global, media/CDN, low-latency APAC | Cost-sensitive, domestic workloads |
Sources for context: price benchmarks & LA market traits. (Brightlio – Technology Iluminated, ColoCrossing, US English, CoreSite)
FAQs (LA-specific)
Is LA good for high-density GPU racks?
Yes—but downtown power can be constrained at very high densities. Many teams place GPU racks in El Segundo (or Phoenix) and use DTLA for interconnects. (Digital Realty, Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
What drives DTLA costs up?
One Wilshire/DTLA interconnection and cloud on-ramps (and local power pricing). (CoreSite, Brightlio – Technology Iluminated)
Can I get direct cloud connectivity?
Yes—Equinix, Digital Realty, and CoreSite LA metros all support major cloud interconnects. (US English, Digital Realty)
What should I watch in quotes?
Cross-connect install/MRCs, 95th percentile billing terms, remote-hands SLAs, and power metering method.
Bottom Line
If you value network gravity and APAC latency, LA is worth the premium. If TCO dominates, consider markets like Phoenix or Dallas and connect back as needed. Either way, we’ll help you prove it on paper with hard numbers.
Get exact LA quotes (free)Tell us your power, racks/RU, carriers, building preferences, SLA & budget.
We’ll send a side-by-side quote matrix from best-fit LA facilities—so you can decide in minutes, not weeks.
