Most people have no clue what to do when they move to LA. You likely moved here with no job, no where to live, and you know no one.
Wait, was that just me?
Either way, you probably have one or more of those problems.
The thing people don’t tell you, when you move anywhere new, especially LA, is that you seriously need to spend a large portion of time actually surviving. Everyone wants so badly to just start in the entertainment industry, but you need to get regular work at first, find a place to live and keep paying the rent. People will tell you that everything is more expensive out in LA, but that is simply not true. Really, the only thing that is more expensive is housing. Whether you’re renting an apartment or buying a condo, it can get expensive. I already suggested places to actually live, so I’ll move on from where to live and to how much you should expect to spend and how to get a job.
How much approximately does it cost?
Well, it really varies between different cities. If you’re living in Valley Village, Studio City, Van Nuys, or Sherman Oaks its not too bad. You could get a studio apartment (Quite a small one) for around $750 a month if you shop around. If you live in Burbank, or Hollywood, you can usually add $100 to $400 more for those places.
The one I first lived in cost $750 and included all utilities, even elextricity. It was nice, but annoyingly small.
However, it’s a great place to start.
You can also do what Preston did and look for people searching for a room mate. He found something for around $400 a month, however, this is risky and you could end up with a psycho. Preston got VERY lucky. No one even tried to force a physical relationship on him.
Those are the cheap options. You could always spend 2 to 3 thousand dollars a month and live in a NICE apartment, but I doubt that anyone who would take the time to read this is looking to spend that much.
Oh, and things no one thinks about… Finding an apartment with more than one parking spot is EXTREMELY rare. Even in the expensive ones. For the first year I parked on the street, which was awful. Avoid this if possible or find a place with great street parking options. It pays off in the end. Trust me.
Also, a washer and dryer is hard to find. If the unit doesn’t come with them, you need to make sure that there is plenty of washers and dryers and that a thousand people don’t use them. I almost shanked a guy over a dryer once. But let’s be honest, he deserved it. He took my clothes out of the WASHER and put them on the ground, soaking wet.
Dude had it coming.
Now, if you’re looking for something with one bedroom, you’re looking to spend average $1,200 to $1,600. I found one that was $995, but that’s RARE. It’s out there if you look for it.
Two bedrooms average is $1,600 to $2,200.
It’s expensive, but if you find a room mate with a job, you can pull it off.
Alright, that’s about what I know about prices out here. If you have more specific questions, please ask. I know more, I just can’t remember all of it at the moment.