Los Angeles is world-renowned for being the epicenter of the entertainment industry. But outside of Hollywood glitz and glamour, there are endless benefits to planting your roots in the City of Angels. If you’re thinking of moving to Los Angeles, you’ll be joining four million Angelenos who relish in the likes of beautiful weather, stunning beaches, lively entertainment, and unparalleled cultural diversity.
Before you pack your bags, there’s a lot to learn about this sprawling, 500 square mile city (more than double the size of San Francisco). Read on to learn some helpful tips to prepare you for your Los Angeles adventure.
1. Be prepared for a higher cost of living
Between the picture-perfect weather and bevy of entertaining attractions, Los Angeles has a lot to offer its residents. This means the cost of living is much higher than your average American city.
- The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $2,470.
- The average price for a gallon of milk is $4.26
- The average cocktail ranges from $16-$18.
While Los Angeles might not be the most expensive city in the country, it’ll still hit your wallet hard if you’re coming from a more affordable location.
2. There’s a neighborhood for every vibe
Each neighborhood in LA has its own style that attracts like minded people. Downtown LA is known for its walkability, city life energy, and luxury apartment living. Trendy West Hollywood is home to plenty of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Hollywood is of course a historic, entertainment industry hub as well as a tourist hot spot.
Suburban areas like Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and North Hollywood make up the San Fernando Valley. On the Eastside, in Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Los Feliz, you’ll find a more artsy locale. For those seeking the beach life, rent prices in Santa Monica and Venice are high, but you’ll be afforded easy access to the Pacific Ocean.
3. There are many job opportunities in LA
While Los Angeles is known for being the creative capital of the world, people who live here work in a variety of fields. The tech industry boasts companies like Snap Inc., Tesla, Hulu, and Postmates who have set up shop on the Westside’s ‘Silicon Beach.’ Many Angelenos will also pick up hospitality or retail jobs with flexible hours to support creative pursuits. Additionally, you’ll find opportunities in fields like marketing, research, manufacturing, and fashion.
4. Having a car in LA is a necessary evil
While it’s possible to live in Los Angeles without a car, you’ll soon find that the convenience of having one is hard to ignore. The Metro trains have very limited routes and high rideshare prices can add to the difficulty.
If you’re in the market for purchasing a car, keep in mind that the current shortage may make buying a new or used car harder than it used to be—especially in a big city like LA.
Sitting in traffic is also unfortunately a part of the LA experience. Bumper-to-bumper traffic occurs between 7am-10am and again from 3pm-7pm. Living within a reasonable commute to your job is highly important, as all those hours on the road can be taxing.
Transportation challenges may drive you crazy, but you won’t regret those sunny, oceanfront drives up the Pacific Coast Highway!
5. You can get a great education in LA
Some of the world’s best universities exist within Los Angeles County. There’s plenty to do in the area for students seeking an exciting college experience. Some of the most popular schools include:
- USC
- UCLA
- Cal State LA
- Cal State Northridge
- Cal State Long Beach
- Loyola Marymount University
- Pepperdine University
- Occidental College
6. LA is more than what you see on the big screen
So, is living in Los Angeles exactly how it looks in the movies? Sometimes! The sunny days and palm tree-lined streets are a staple of the environment. Be prepared to lose the seasons here, as hot, warm, breezy, and rainy are the only types of weather you’ll get year-round.
There’s also a lot of diversity in Los Angeles with neighborhoods like Koreatown, Thai Town, Little Ethiopia, and Little Armenia dotted throughout the city. Mexican culture has the biggest influence in being the pioneers of Los Angeles’ roots (Taco Tuesday is a weekly essential).
LA is famously described as being “fake” due to its reputation as a paradise for beauty, wealth, luxury, and fame. While you will encounter these people, you’ll also find plenty of people who are nice, friendly, and down-to-earth. Los Angeles is filled with both locals and transplants who are open to making new friends. The city is much more approachable than it seems if you’re willing to take a step out of your comfort zone.
7. There is so much to do in LA
In Los Angeles, there’s something exciting to do every night of the week. Concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, comedy shows at The Laugh Factory, baseball games at Dodger Stadium and TV show tapings at Jimmy Kimmel Live are just a few uniquely LA ways you can spend a day.
If you’re an outdoorsy person, Runyon Canyon is the most popular hiking spot with Temescal Canyon and Mount Baldy being notable favorites. You also won’t go wrong taking in the breeze with a beach day at the Santa Monica Pier, a walk on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, or a bike ride along Manhattan Beach.
You’ll be spoiled by delicious dining destinations throughout the city that offer an endless variety of cuisines for any type of diet (though you can never go wrong with an LA street dog). Nightlife hot spots range from dive bars to lounges to exclusive nightclubs featuring performances by chart-topping artists.
Shopping is also an attractive draw, with places like the Beverly Center and Rodeo Drive being known for their luxury designers. The Grove is a popular outdoor mall while Melrose Avenue boutiques offer local brands and vintage finds.
There are also enriching cultural destinations like the Academy Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LACMA, or the Getty Museum for a dose of art history. The Griffith Observatory will teach you about the stars above while the Walk of Fame features the ones beneath your feet. And don’t be surprised if the Hollywood Forever Cemetery turns into an unlikely favorite event venue.
Preparing for your move to Los Angeles
If you’re moving to LA alone and looking for a roommate, there are plenty of Facebook groups filled with people looking to do the same. Be cautious about who you interact with, but a simple “roommates in LA” group search will help narrow down your hunt. You’ll also find plenty of people looking to sublet or lease their place.
Browsing Zumper is the best way to find an expansive selection of apartments currently available in Los Angeles. The map view will help you develop an idea of which areas are within your budget, and what types of apartments you can expect to find in each neighborhood.
As a rule of thumb, you should save up at least $10,000-$15,000 before moving to Los Angeles. This amount is reasonable to help cover apartment move-in costs and the high cost of living.
Once you’ve secured the perfect apartment, don’t forget to pay attention to the fine print in your lease. Some apartments are rent controlled with rent legally only allowed to increase at a fixed rate per year. Others can jump up in price after a 12-month lease. These rules depend on where the apartment is located and the year the building was built.
Think you might be moving to Los Angeles soon? Browse thousands of apartments on Zumper to find the right place to live during your LA adventure.
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