Last updated on February 9th, 2022 at 04:13 pm

Read This Guide Before Moving to LA

You’re ready to move to LA.

You’ve dreamed of getting into the entertainment business. You’re an actor, a writer, a director. You’re obsessed with working on the screen.

Or you long for the sunny west coast, and you know that the sun-kissed LA streets and the beaches (Santa Monica, Manhattan, Hermosa!) fit the bill.

Or perhaps none of the above. It’s just time for a change, and Los Angeles calls to you.

What makes LA special?

Los Angeles is sprawling. LA county is over 4,000 square miles and includes many cities you know by name: Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, to name a few.

I love how Derek Sivers[efn_note]https://sivers.org/la[/efn_note] explained it:

“So if you go just understanding it’s a bunch of adjacent towns, each quite different in character, and don’t go expecting a city, then it won’t be so frustrating. When someone says they hate LA, you have to ask, “Which neighborhood?” Because Santa Monica is not like Silverlake is not like Van Nuys is not like Hollywood, but they’re all inside that circle called LA. It’s completely de-centralized. (And “downtown” is just another neighborhood. It’s not the center of things, like most cities. Most people have no need to go there.)”

It can be overwhelming. Especially if you’re from a smaller city. Unlike even the biggest American cities (New York, Chicago, San Francisco), you may need to trek across multiple freeways to get to a different bar, gym, restaurant, or venue.

That’s what gives Los Angeles its “spread-out” feel, and why people complain about “fake friends” and the dating scene. It’s hard to motivate yourself to drive out of your bubble for a dead-end Tinder date when you’re battling a 45-minute commute both ways.

On the other hand, that’s the adventure, isn’t it? Four million people call the city of Los Angeles home. That’s 4,000,000 future friends, business partners, and lovers. Combine that with:

• Easy access to mountains and beaches
• An average temperature of 64 °F, 284 days of sunshine, and 34 days of rain
• Inane displays of wealth
• …and the entertainment industry at your doorstep

…it’s no wonder LA is a city teeming with possibility.[efn_note]https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/california/los-angeles-714829/[/efn_note] [efn_note]https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/california/los_angeles[/efn_note]

How much is rent in LA?

According to RentCafe[efn_note]https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ca/los-angeles[/efn_note] the average apartment rental in Los Angeles is $2,563, and the average apartment size is 790 square feet. Naturally, there’s a lot of variability, depending on the location, size, amenities, etc.

Check out the variance of these neighborhoods:

• Downtown Santa Monica: $4,086
• Downtown Culver City: $3,314
• Downtown Los Angeles: $2,713
• Koreatown: $2,043
• Jefferson Park: $1,465

When renting your first apartment, expect to hand over first month, last month, and a security deposit to sign that lease.

If this seems like a lot, it is. On the bright side, it’s still less than Manhattan (average rent: $4,140) and San Francisco ($3,244).

(Check out more tips to move to LA on a budget here.)

What’s the best neighborhood in LA?

Picking the right neighborhood can be daunting when you first move to LA, and our tendency to overgeneralize doesn’t help:

• Want to be a beach bum? Redondo or Hermosa
• Hipster? Los Feliz or Silver Lake
• Want to “be-seen?” Beverly Hills or West Hollywood

Generalizations are great for realtors and magazines, but not your first move to LA.

Fortunately, finding the best neighborhood in LA is simple. Follow these three steps:

First, look at what’s currently popular.

You can’t go wrong starting in areas with good liquidity (meaning: apartments coming on and off the market).

According to RentCafe,[efn_note]https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ca/los-angeles[/efn_note] here are the most popular neighborhoods in Los Angeles:

• Hollywood ($2,531 average rent)
• Koreatown ($2,043)
• Palms ($2,370)
• Westlake ($2,232)
• East Hollywood ($2,138)

Second, pick an area close to where you work.

If you have any inkling of where you’re going to work in Los Angeles, move there. Do yourself this favor. Even if you only know the general area: west side, east side, downtown, the Valley… you can save an immeasurable amount of time, money, and stress by living in the general vicinity.

For example, if you work in tech (or want to make the jump into a tech role) West LA is a good bet.

I lived and worked on the west side. It was wonderful. I biked to work 3x per week, enjoyed the SoCal sun, and avoided sitting in a metal box as much as possible.

My wife wasn’t as lucky. She worked in Orange County; a 40-mile commute that took at least an hour, one-way. Every week she spent 10 hours in her car.

To the best of your ability, choose a neighborhood close to work.

Third, remember: nothing’s forever.

What happens if you choose a neighborhood and hate it?

Don’t sweat it. You can always move.

Los Angeles is a never-ceasing ebb and flow of transplants. New vacancies sprout like weeds.

The longer you’re in town, the more people you’ll know. The more people you know, the greater chance you’ll hear about that “fantastic, unlisted rental going” from a friend of a friend.

Each time you move, it gets easier.

Want more help finding an apartment? Check out the best guide on finding apartments in LA.

Is LA dog friendly?

Los Angeles is incredibly dog-friendly. You’ll find dozens of grooming, park, outdoor dining, and hotel options for your dog.

Keep in mind that your landlord can deny accommodation due to your pet. There are often restrictions on size, weight, and breed, so if you’re bringing a dog, double-check your lease.

Other details to keep in mind:

• Licenses. At 4-months-old, dogs must be licensed
• Neutering. At 4-months-old, dogs must be neutered
• Leashes. Must be on a leash at all times, unless in a fenced-in area, or off-leash designated parks and beaches

Do I need a car in LA?

No, you don’t need a car in LA.

Is having a car in Los Angeles convenient? Of course.

But between the buses and the metro, it is manageable, and will only get better. That’s because of Measure M, a half-a-cent sales tax started in 2017. That adds up to $860 million a year, raised to fund transit and rail improvements.[efn_note]https://rebuildsocal.org/initiatives/measure-m/[/efn_note]

In the meantime, get a bike or an e-bike. Last-mile transport like dockless scooters is available in many neighborhoods. And if you’re really stuck, a ubiquitous Uber or Lyft car is only a tap away.

If you do have a car, a few tips worth remembering:

First, traffic is worse than you expect.

You’ve heard the horror stories. You’re still not ready for this. There’s no logical reason why you should be bumper-to-bumper reverse commuting at 10 pm… but you will be.

Always check Google Maps or Waze 30 minutes before you leave.

Second, you need a cryptology degree to decipher parking signs. 

Read all the signs. Start from the top, and work your way down. Do not skim. Pay particular attention to street cleaning signs and time restrictions. These are enforced.

Parking spots are hot commodities. Neighborhoods take permit parking seriously, so you’re chancing a ticket if you don’t have the right permit.

Need help getting your California driver’s license? Check out the step-by-step guide to get your license.

When is the best time to move to LA?

According to RentHop, the best time to move to LA is September through December.[efn_note]https://www.renthop.com/studies/national/best-time-of-year-to-rent[/efn_note]

On average, you’ll see a 4% decrease from peak rental prices. This difference amounts to savings of $85 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, and $103 per month for a two-bedroom.

These are all estimates of course, and there’s a ton of variables going into the rental market. However, it does align with the national trend of finding better deals during the fall and winter months.

There’s the added benefit of searching and moving into an apartment in cooler weather, too.

How much should I save to move to LA?

Generally speaking, you should save about $20,000 to move to LA. There’s a lot of variance in this number, so we’ll break this down into cost subcategories so you can more accurately calculate how much you want to save:

• Moving costs
• First apartment costs
• Startup costs
• Emergency costs

Moving costs

Budget $500 – $2,500 for moving costs.

You could fly or drive to Los Angeles. According to Google Flights, the cost of a one-way ticket from JFK to LAX can range between $78 to $180. This number will fluctuate depending on when you fly and where you’re flying from. You’ll want to include a few check-in suitcases to move your things. We’ll add $300, assuming $100 per check-in suitcase.

If you drive to LA, the cost of gas to drive from New York to Los Angeles is $458.46 at current gas prices.[efn_note]https://www.travelmath.com/cost-of-driving/from/New+York,+NY/to/Los+Angeles,+CA[/efn_note] That’s an average of $4.11 per gallon, assuming gas mileage of 25 mpg.

Ideally, you’ll be able to pack most of your belongings in your car, reducing your moving costs. That just leaves food and places to stay along the way. The drive can take 6-8 days, so depending on your level of comfort, accommodations can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500.

First Apartment Costs

Budget $6,000 – $12,000 to rent your first apartment.

Some back-of-the-napkin math:

• Studio / One-Bedroom: $1,800 – $2,200
• Two-Bedroom: $2,400 – $4,000

Use a ballpark figure for rent: $2,500. To secure an apartment, you need 3x that rent: First month, last month, and a security deposit.

That puts you at $7,500.

Congratulations! You’re now the proud renter of an unfurnished, empty white box with no furniture, food, or high-speed internet.

Startup costs

Budget $1,500 – $6,000 to kick start your life in Los Angeles.

You’ve physically moved to Los Angeles. You’ve got 4 white walls, no place to sit, and most haunting of all, no Netflix.

Time to start filling up that apartment. First, the essentials: gas, electricity, internet, cell phone bill, car insurance, and fuel. Ballpark: $400 – $800 per month.

Next, you’ll want to think about buying furniture, dishware, and other amenities. The bill here depends on what you moved out with and where you like to shop:

• If you shop at Pottery Barn? Budget $5,000
• Wayfair or Ikea? $2,500
• Craigslist? $1,000

Emergency costs

Budget $7,500 for emergency costs.

Keep additional funds to cover unexpected costs, like accidents, parking tickets, and medical bills. I call these “emergency costs.”

To calculate your emergency costs number:

Cost of living per month x 3-6 months

First, calculate roughly how much you spend per month. Include rent, utilities, groceries, subscriptions, and going out.

Then, depending on your risk tolerance, multiply that by 3-6.

A ballpark number for emergency costs might be $2,500 x 3 = $7,500

Next, we add up these costs to calculate how much to save to move to LA. We’ll stay on the more conservative side:

• Moving costs: $2,000
• First apartment costs: $10,000
• Startup costs: $4,000
• Emergency costs: $4,000

Save around $20,000 to move to LA.

Can I move to LA with no money?

By being strategic about where you live, how you move, and where you shop, you can make the move with a lot less money.

When I made the move, I spent dramatically less. Here are some tips on moving to LA with no money:

Land a remote job, then move

Get a remote job, one that doesn’t care what time zone you’re in, as long as you’re getting your work done. With a guaranteed job in place, you can dramatically reduce your savings for emergency costs, because you’ll have income from Day 1 in Los Angeles.

Plus being able to show a steady paycheck will make you a more attractive tenant to landlords.

Here are 10 remote jobs with no experience required.

Pick affordable neighborhoods

According to RentCafe[efn_note]https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ca/los-angeles/[/efn_note] the most affordable neighborhoods in LA are:

• Vermont Knolls ($1,436/month)
• Vermont Vista ($1,436)
• Jefferson Park ($1,465)
• Winnetka ($1,571)
• El Sereno ($1,590)
• Leimert Park ($1,637)

Get a roommate

If you are new to Los Angeles and on a budget, getting a roommate is the fastest way to save cash. With one move, you’ve cut your rent (plus all utilities) in half.

Other great benefits:

• Living with a roommate is safer
• It’s more convenient when scheduling deliveries or maintenance
• You automatically double your network

If you think, “ugh, I can’t, I need my own space!” that’s fine – just be prepared to have more cash saved.

Use Travel Rewards to move

Credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and the Barclays Arrival Card offer anywhere from 30K – 100K award points after a minimum spend (e.g. $3,000 in the first three months).

100,000 points could easily cover your flight. Or if you’re driving, it can cover a few nights in hotels.

Make use of Craigslist

You can furnish your entire new apartment with things you find on Craigslist.

Grab a friend and pick a weekend to rent a U-Haul truck. The night before, scour all the For Sale ads. Make offers on essential items (bed, desks, dresser, etc.) so you lock in the sale and make good use of the rental.

Starting with an empty box, I paid $1,000 to completely furnish the apartment, all off of Craigslist.

Is moving to LA a good idea?

Yes. Because no matter what, you’ll learn about yourself.

Making any kind of big move takes resilience, grit, and courage. It doesn’t matter if this is a stepping stone in your career or a complete reset for yourself.

There’s no guarantee any of this is going to work out.

You’ll have to go out on a limb.

Which is OK, because that’s where the fruit is.

Get out there and break a leg.

Notes:

Photo Credits: Nemanja Pantelic