Moving to Los Angeles is the continuation of the American dream, of traveling west towards the setting sun and carving out a life on the edge of the world. Believe it or not, though, you can do it. Renting an apartment in LA is actually easier and less expensive than in cities of comparable size like San Francisco and New York. Legions of dreamers, wanderers, pioneers, artists and those in search for a better life have picked up and moved to the belly of the beast, and so can you.
The challenge is that Los Angeles has over 100 definable neighborhoods, and deciding which one of them to live in can be intimidating
Moving to Los Angeles is the continuation of the American dream, of traveling west towards the setting sun and carving out a life on the edge of the world. Believe it or not, though, you can do it. Renting an apartment in LA is actually easier and less expensive than in cities of comparable size like San Francisco and New York. Legions of dreamers, wanderers, pioneers, artists and those in search for a better life have picked up and moved to the belly of the beast, and so can you.
The challenge is that Los Angeles has over 100 definable neighborhoods, and deciding which one of them to live in can be intimidating. However, if you do your research, you too can join the masses in the entertainment capital of the world. Here are some tips for renting successfully in the City of Angels:
- Consider your commute. The most important factor when deciding on a pad in Los Angeles is your proximity to the workplace. You generally want to live as close to that location as you can. Nothing affects the quality of life more in LA than the length of your commute, which, as you have probably heard, is infamous for its congestion. Test-drive the length of your commute before you sign a lease to get a real idea of what your time in the car will be like.
- Set your budget, then search slightly above it. Some rental properties in LA include cable service, Internet connection, water, wastewater and utilities, and some include none of these. A $1000 rental that includes all of the above is a much better deal than a place for $900 that includes nothing – even if it’s a hundred or so over budget. Trust us, you’ll be wishing you took the all-inclusive when that first bill comes in.
- Think about parking! When you move to LA, you will have to devote a much larger space in your brain to parking, so you might as well start now. Does your apartment come with a parking space? If you will have street parking, check signs for the street cleaning schedule and for any other times (like rush hour) your car would have to be parked somewhere else. A parking spot that you can call your own is worth quite a bit in LA.
- Get a Thomas Guide. This is the map that Angelenos swear by, and you will likely find one in almost every home and car. Thick, heavy and hundreds of pages of long, the Thomas Guide is the recognized source for street information that the city relies on. Not big on maps? Make sure you have a working GPS to find your way around the city.
The following rent averages come from current listings on our website. Rent prices listed are averages and may not reflect the cost of specific units. Rental prices can vary depending on factors like size, location, amenities, and availability.
On average, expect to pay around $2,199 per month for a studio apartment in Los Angeles.
The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles is approximately $2,848 per month.
In Los Angeles, a 2-bedroom apartment typically rents for around $2,962 per month.
A 3-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles will cost, on average, $4,581 per month.
Moving to Los Angeles with no vehicle is like moving to Mars without a rover. While public transportation exists, the system is nothing like what you would find in New York, Boston or Paris. Los Angeles is not a walkable city – we drive our cars to the corner coffee shop – and if you don’t have wheels, your options become extremely limited.
If you do opt for public transit, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) runs the public transportation system, including:
- Metro Rail: Six lines cover a good portion of the county, with new expansions underway. Efficient and convenient for certain commutes.
- Metro Bus: Extensive network reaching many areas, but can be slow due to traffic.
- DASH Bus: Smaller buses serving specific neighborhoods, often connecting to Metro Rail stations.
Finding a pet-friendly apartment in Los Angeles can feel overwhelming, but don't despair! While the city boasts a vibrant mix of cultures and energy, pet policies can vary significantly.
- Weight restrictions: While dogs are popular even in the busiest parts of the city, be aware that many buildings (especially high-rises) have weight limits for pets, often stricter than other locations.
- Building size and amenities: Larger buildings and those with dedicated pet amenities like dog runs are more likely to be pet-friendly.
The good news? New York City offers a surprising number of pet-friendly options. Here are some resources. Furthermore, major rental listing websites like Apartment List allow filtering by pet-friendliness. Simply select “Dog-Friendly” or “Cat-Friendly” in your preferences when you start your search.
Still have questions about living in LA? Here are some of the most common ones from people moving to the city for the first time:
According to our rental estimate data, as of March 2024, rent prices are going down in LA. They were down by 3.4% year over year even though they had risen slightly over the previous month by 0.5%.
A studio apartment is currently $2,199, and we use a budgeting rule that says rent should not be more than 30% of your total income. So $70,000 would not be enough to live in LA at the average rate; you would want to earn closer to $90,000 a year.
If you don’t already have opportunities lined up in a particular area of Los Angeles, then your options are pretty open. Talking to locals is always the best way to figure out a new neighborhood.
Whichever side you happen to choose will most likely be where you spend the great majority of your time. Commuting back and forth across the city can, and probably will, drain your time, money, and sanity. Living somewhere on the west side – say, Venice or Santa Monica – will be more conducive to relaxing on the beach on your off days whereas east-siders will only see the beach if absolutely necessary. We really mean it when we say the traffic is that bad in LA. Furthermore, the geographical reality of Los Angeles makes your choice of a neighborhood very important; when people ask you where you’re from, you don’t just say “LA” but rather: Silver Lake, K-Town, Venice Beach or Hollywood!
- Santa Monica: A polished seaside city with a famous pier, Santa Monica is the epitome of the west LA. Shops and gourmet restaurants make Santa Monica a place of ease. Santa Monica is a very livable neighborhood, with the farmer’s market on Main Street every Sunday morning.
- Venice Beach: If you are determined to live by the beach, Venice might be a good option.
- Westwood/Century City: Century City is a business center that turns into a practical ghost town at night. Westwood is next door, and has plenty of restaurants and bars.
- Culver City: Long known as a movie and TV production Mecca. You can find an apartment here for a decent price.
- Beverly Hills: A separate city from Los Angeles altogether. With shopping along Rodeo Drive.
- West Hollywood: West Hollywood (or We-Ho) is one of the cleanest and most stylish areas in Los Angeles. West Hollywood is full of clothing shops, and new eateries.
- Hollywood: Hollywood is where many people first land when they arrive in LA. You'll be living in the thick of things.
- Silver Lake: This neighborhood is full of organic cafes, eclectic boutiques, dive bars, and chilled-out coffee shops. Located between Echo Park and Glendale, Silver Lake has a central location, just 10-15 minutes to downtown or Hollywood. Finding an affordable apartment here isn’t easy, but with enough legwork it can be done.
- Echo Park: Echo Park has cute little shops, and vegan cafe.. Echo Park Lake is quite beautiful during the day, Dodger Stadium is around the corner, and the Echo and the Echoplex venues both see a lot of hot musical action all throughout the year.
- Los Feliz: This pretty area is a relatively chill place to come home to from the madness of LA. It features quick access to neighboring Griffith Park and some particularly gorgeous homes, that is, if you can afford to live in one.
- Wilshire/Midtown: Centered on Wilshire Blvd. It’s also home to Koreatown (or K-town), where you can find an apartment in any price range.
- Downtown: Downtown Los Angeles is the heart of the city. You can rent a chic new loft with a killer view for an amazing price..
Now that you’ve been outfitted with the proper tools, tip, and tricks, we’re confident that finding the LA apartment of your dreams is definitely within reach. LA is a big place gleaming with opportunity, and it’s up to you to grab it, like life, by the horns. Now go forth, dear apartment hunter, and claim your piece of this angelic city.
