I am thinking about moving from Arkansas to Los Angeles, what can I expect if I do this?

Question

I would like to be back in my hometown after nearly a 37 year absence. Is there good jobs, and affordable housing?

Answer 1

Expect to be broke all the time or adapt financially.

Find a way to be creative in making money.

I don't want to discourage you, but its really, really expensive and its getting unfordable for us home owners, too.

Expect gas to go no lower than 3 dollars a gallon, and expect your gas bills to be astronomical for water and power as well.

Expect that pricing for all other normal purchases and services have gone up due to a domino affect of gas prices, and know that if you could afford a home at all... Your property tax is based upon inflated pricing.

For example, our home was 164,000 for our family of 4 in 1992. Now, its gone up to 700,000. The property tax is now 2,000 a year.

We can't move... If we did, where would we go? Buy a bigger house somewhere in Arkansas... and then do what?

Once you move out of California, its very difficult to get back here.

So, I hope you have a plan.

Answer 2

Well, you didn't say if you have a specific career. So, depending on what you consider a "good job" there's plenty of jobs available in LA. As far as what to expect versus living in Arkansas: LOTS more traffic; MUCH more expensive housing; Basically EVERYTHING will cost more in LA; on the plus side, depending on what you like to do for fun, LA has LOTS more to offer. I know this much, it'd suck to live in LA and be broke. If you have money and can keep real and not get sucked up into all the fake people and bs, LA would be a blast. Again, it all depends on what you're looking for and how much money you have going into this. It'd certainly help if you're hot, have fake boobs and money. haha Otherwise, you might be like a duck outta water. If you don't have a career and/or money to live a comfortable life in LA you're better off living in LA.......lower Arkansas. haha Good luck!

Answer 3

You're talking about a major difference in jobs and housing. Several of California's larger cities are considered the least affordable to live in, including LA. Go online before you get here to update yourself on job opportunities and housing costs/rentals. Call any friends/relatives you may have here. LA homes rent at 2k and up, sell for 600k and up on avg. You may be able to find an apt for less, but not by much. Depending on your job skills, there are plenty of jobs, though you may need 2 jobs to keep up with the cost of living here. Good luck :)

Answer 4

Expect a MASSIVE increase in the cost of living. Jobs? Depends upon what you do. Affordable housing? No, none of that left unless you want to live in the middle of nowhere.

When you add smog, insane traffic, road rage, crime, etc. to the cost you won't recognize what you left behind.

I used to live in Riverside County. Was back in the old "hood" a couple of years ago and it wan't recognizeable. The place I'd sold for $60k back in 1983 was selling for $429k and the neighborhood had gone to hell in a handbasket. I'm as happy as a claim in SW MO now and will probably die here.

Answer 5

No, housing in Southern California is neither as affordable as it was 37 years ago nor as affordable as it is in Arkansas.

Answer 6

California-Affordable housing? those two things don't mix. You're in for major culture shock - you better have a job lined up first

Answer 7

Over priced houses...smog, crime...and the hottest chicks in the world.

Answer 8

I don't know, it is a lot more expensive out here...