How Much Money Do I Need to Move to Los Angeles?

Question

I plan on moving to Los Angeles in June/July of next year. I've been looking for over a year and studying the city and places and all that and I've found some pretty good looking apartments in nice neighborhoods for around $700-$1400 a month. $700 being for a studio or one bedroom and $1400 for a two bedroom, I'm hoping to get a roommate when I get out there or before I get out there.

I willing to live with the bare minimums for a while when i get there..i heard that goodwill is a good place to find furniture. I will most likely have a Toyota Prius by the time i move out there or another hybrid car because of gas and the only other thing I'm bringing with me besides that will be clothes, a $60 a month cell phone bill, and $106 a month car insurance payment...which I will probably have a few months already paid for in advance.

I am a pharmacy technician here in Tuscaloosa, AL making $9.50/hr and hope I can find another pharmacy technician job in LA once soon after I get there.

Oh and I will most likely be living in West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, or Century City.

Answer 1

Good luck...not being rude...I'm just saying that people don't move here because it's so reasonable. Even groceries and car insurance are more expensive here. Hope you find a place you like. (Try IKEA in Burbank or O.C. for cheaper furniture.)

Answer 2

How refreshing it is to hear someone say they are NOT coming here to become an "actress". You should not have any trouble finding employment as a Pharmacy Tech. As you probably already know not only would you be in demand at must drug stores and pharmacy chains, but most larger general merchandise and grocery stores also have pharmacies in them.

You will probably find that unusually low rents will mean either a "dumpy" apartment , or an area you don't want to be living in. If it is within your budget, it is best to come out for a few days and look around. The Los Angeles metropolitan area has so many different areas (it's 120 miles wide, and 50 miles deep) it's hard to pick one place not knowing your likes and dislikes. Good luck to you, at least a job won't be one of your problems.

Answer 3

Rent can vary block by block in LA - and even though one street can be charming, family and safe, the next one over can be dangerous.

Pharmacy techs make a good living here. I suggest renting month-by-month in the cheapest furnished apt you can find at first, then once you have a job and know the area better, find something permanent. Don't sign anything long term in a city you don't know. It might look like a nice area online, but it's probably an ad showing it in the best light.

You won't be in the best area, but there are one bedrooms in West Hollywood for under $1K/mo. I'd start there since you can probably avoid a lease easiest there. The other places you mention - well, I doubt you'd get anything under 1,500, even a studio.

Answer 4

You seem to have a pretty good handle on what the expenses will be. $7,000. sounds like a lot of money, but you'll still need to budget until you have a job nailed down. Welcome to Los Angeles and good luck with the job hunting.

Answer 5

.i heard that goodwill is a good place to find furniture.

You might check with Craigslist under Free. I hear people are giving away nice stuff for whatever reason.

Hope that helps.

Answer 6

Rents are out of sight. Probably you will not find anything for $700. $2,000 is more like it.

Answer 7

50,000.00$$ Is a safe start!!! Any thing less you will be struggling!!!! Lived there for 30yrs!!!

Answer 8

Bring as much as you can....

Answer 9

all of it.