How much does it cost to live in Los Angeles?

[weiv0004]

I'm considering a move to LA, so I'm browsing job listings . . . not sure how much compensation I should be looking for.

I visited LA a week or so ago, and it didn't seem TOO expensive . . . the friend I stayed with paid about $1000 a month for a 2 bedroom . . . food/entertainment/electronics all seemed comparable to what I pay now. The only thing that was blatantly more expensive was gas. Probably .50 to a dollar more expensive than I was used to.

so what's the verdict?

I don't live too lavishly, but i do like to be able to go out to eat and movies and entertainment, I also would HAVE to drive . . . no public transit for this guy.

Thanks folks.

 

[illusion88]

how much does it cost to live in Los Angeles?

about tree fiddy

 

[olds]

$42

 

[gar3555]

$eleventy billion

 

[weiv0004]

wow, we've got quite a range so far!

from 3.50 to Eleventy Billion.

I should also add that I am currently living in Minneapolis.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
wow, we've got quite a range so far!

from 3.50 to Eleventy Billion.

I should also add that I am currently living in Minneapolis.

You won't need the dog sled team any more so you can save on walrus meat.

 

[weiv0004]

You won't need the dog sled team any more so you can save on walrus meat.

Technically, I feed them the blubber, not the meat. Doesn't spoil as quickly . . .

 

[summit]

what part of los angeles? i know people who live in the cheaper parts and 1br rent is ~550 and food is dirt cheap cause they live next to lots of taquerias but its also in a shaddy area. what were u thinking of doing in los angeles?

 

[her209]

Are you planning on having a girlfriend once you're here?

 

[Rike]

To frame costs in terms of opportunity costs, getting good housing not too far (in time) from both job and points of need/entertainment should be a top priority. There nothing like having a good job and a nice place to live and spending 1/4 of your waking hours stuck in traffic. :thumbsdown:

 

[invidia]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
wow, we've got quite a range so far!

from 3.50 to Eleventy Billion.

I should also add that I am currently living in Minneapolis.

How much is the cost of living at Minneapolis?


Going to LA for me from FL is like going from the US to Ethiopia.

 

[weiv0004]

Not sure what the "cost of living" in minneapolis is . . . I work for an advertising agency, and hope to be able to find something in the field in LA. I currently make about 40k a year and live comfortably, but not lavishly off that. I would plan on having a girlfriend out there, that's part of why I'm considering the move actually.

Going to LA for me from FL is like going from the US to Ethiopia.

I assume this means LA is MUCH more expensive than FL, right?

Does 40k sound doable in LA? Or am I being niave?

Thanks

 

[theblackbox]

LA is a retarded place to live. I go to LA (anaheim hills) at the end of the year and stay through winter so about 4 months. Everything there is overpriced. There is no such thing as a cheap loaf of bread, gas is ridiculous, movies are over priced, unless you go to cinema city in anaheim before 11am (4 bucks) Plus the traffic is a pain in the ass, so if you need to be somewhere in a hurry, don't expect to make it.
Jobs are good, i worked out of irvine while i was there doing some ERP consulting and the money can more then make up the cost of living.
given a choice i'd stay away from LA as a whole for more then 4 months and wouldn't live there full time for anything. if you plan to move to california, look north of LA, far north.

 

[theblackbox]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
Not sure what the "cost of living" in minneapolis is . . . I work for an advertising agency, and hope to be able to find something in the field in LA. I currently make about 40k a year and live comfortably, but not lavishly off that. I would plan on having a girlfriend out there, that's part of why I'm considering the move actually.

Going to LA for me from FL is like going from the US to Ethiopia.

I assume this means LA is MUCH more expensive than FL, right?

Does 40k sound doable in LA? Or am I being niave?

Thanks

40k by yourself? if you don't mind living outside of LA where you have to have a screen door on your house to keep the flies out during summer, and don't mind comuting a long ways.
you could live in some small apartment soewhere south of LA, but you'd have a tough time if you were supporting more then yourself, or if you have a desire to do much of anything.

 

[jarfykk]

How far do you want to commute and how "interesting" a neighborhood do you want to live in? Add a large premium if you enjoy ocean breezes. Just like pointed out above, its the size/population of many states (and countries for that matter) and costs vary quite a bit. You'll see higher water costs than many places in the U.S., as well as gasoline. However you generally have relatively little heating costs in winter and depending on how heat tolerant you are it is similar/less than other places as it is a dry heat. Produce is generally less expensive (much is local or from a nearby port). Cars often sell for a slight premium in SoCal, and insurance costs (required) are often higher as well...plenty of used options are available though. Electricity if somewhat comparable to the rest of the country but our unregulated systems means there can (and has been) be price spikes. Houses are expensive compared to most of the country. Apartments are fairly expensive as well but salaries for many jobs reflect this...so you make more in L.A. that you do in Alabama, example.

Commuting times and costs will be your biggest issues to solve, so when you're sorting of if this job will work, best bet is to plot it on a map and then see what apartments go for within a X minutes radius (where X is how long you want to drive twice a day). L.A. can be a beast, but is navigable outside of rush hour and is not completely pervasive (i.e. many routes are perfectly clear most of the day or only slow 10-20% during rush hour...other routes like the 405 FWY in/out of the San Fernando Valley are the epitome of why you never buy a manual transmission (like I did) vehicle and go dirve your first day with it on that particular route...your leg will cramp eventually after stopping/going a million times, uphill.

Smog can also be a deal killer but it is not as bad as it was in the 1970s and the air quality is pretty decent is many places year round (if it matters for you).

Good luck.

 

[db]

No matter where you live, there are advantages and disadvantages. If you can deal with the disadvantages, then you're in. You already know that it costs $1k or more to rent, next consideration is how far away you will drive to work/school. If it's a long commute and you can accept that, then you're ok. LA isn't for everybody and I'm glad b/c we don't need any more haters/whiners. This is a place where you can enjoy many things if you want to. Anybody who is a racist or wants to tell everybody else how to live: do us all a favor and live somewhere else.

 

[EGGO]

What agency are you working at? I think I know a few people in LA that used to work in the agency I'm with in NYC.

 

[theblackbox]

Originally posted by: db
No matter where you live, there are advantages and disadvantages. If you can deal with the disadvantages, then you're in. You already know that it costs $1k or more to rent, next consideration is how far away you will drive to work/school. If it's a long commute and you can accept that, then you're ok. LA isn't for everybody and I'm glad b/c we don't need any more haters/whiners. This is a place where you can enjoy many things if you want to. Anybody who is a racist or wants to tell everybody else how to live: do us all a favor and live somewhere else.

how young are you? i know so many people from LA that can't stand it for reasons i have given, from my personal experience, pretty much the same result. I don't think telling the truth about LA and how crappy it is can either be considered hating/whining or racist.
You'd be surprised how much better the rest of the country is, and how much nicer other cities can be.

 

[rh71]

You talkin boot south central? LBC?

 

[trulfe]

i pay $1250 for my 1 bedroom and $4.69 a gallon for premium gas in LA.

 

[potato28]

Can't be that much more than living in any other city in similar size. But don't take my word on it, largest city up here is like 5 million people.