In this blog post, I will give you 5 tips that will help you afford living in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
If you’re looking to move here on a budget, you’re going to need all the help you can get!
To provide the best tips, I convened all that I have learned from growing up in this amazing part of California, as well as a few tips from my friends and family.
Keep reading for helpful advice and information!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
BUILD COMMUNITY
SIDE HUSTLE
SET “DINE OUT” DAYS AND STICK TO THEM
CONSIDER LIVING EAST
CHOOSE YOUR CAR WISELY
CAN YOU AFFORD LIVING IN LOS ANGELES?
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1. Build Community
Yes, introverts. This applies to you as well.
Opportunities in LA are sourced from two major players –
- God’s providence, and
- Who you know
When you build community, you become connected to opportunities that can help you financially.
My friend Sunsariay C. recommends putting yourself in environments with wealthy people who can “help you with a back house or a discount on rent.”
These “wealthy” environments can include professional associations, Church ministries or even a golf team.
And, finding community doesn’t always mean paying hundreds of dollars to join a members-only club. Whether you live in Hollywood or Long Beach, there are many free or low-cost events and activities happening all over Los Angeles.
Choose your activity of comfort and go for it.
Also, building community is clearly easier said than done, right?
While it is important to be intentional about finding community, remember to trust God’s timing.
Since Los Angeles is an extremely diverse city, with patience, you can find a community that works best for you.
On a non-financial note, being intentional about community will help you maintain a small town camaraderie with the big city.
Without community, you can easily find yourself lost in the busyness of it all.
2. Side Hustle
LA has certain side-hustle opportunities you can’t really get anywhere else.
For instance, you can find unique Hollywood memorabilia at an estate sale in Malibu and sell it for top dollar on eBay.
My husband actually brings in more than 4 figures per month selling unique Los Angeles memorabilia. To learn more, check out Side Hustles & Taxes Part 1: How to Secure the Bag with eBay.
If re-selling isn’t your thing, don’t worry, there are plenty of other options.
These days, you can always take on gig jobs like driving for Uber, delivering with DoorDash or buying groceries on Instacart.
And, for those who need top dollar, consider doing your gig jobs in millionaire neighborhoods such as Palos Verdes or Miracle Mile where customers are likely to give higher tips.
For those who prefer more stationary work, another side-hustle to consider is house sitting. With real estate being so valuable, you can make good money house sitting for wealthy travelers.
You can also get paid to be a TV show audience member or movie extra.
There’s no business like show business, might as well take advantage of it while living in LA!
3. Set “dine-out” days and stick to them
Let’s keep it real, when you think of “food cities,” Los Angeles is not one of them.
Maybe Chicago, Atlanta, New York – but Los Angeles… not so much.
Now, here’s the thing – Los Angeles does have amazing food. The secret – it’s in our ethnic cuisine.
Overall, LA’s American Food is meh. But, our Mexican, Guatemalan, Peruvian Chinese, Ethiopian and other ethnic cuisines are incredible.
Not only that, dining out in Los Angeles is an experience.
There’s nothing like eating brunch on Melrose or catching a fish taco in Malibu.
It’s a blast.
So, the issue with these amazing food experiences is that they add up. Without a plan, you can find yourself eating out with coworkers and new friends almost every day of the week.
To combat this temptation, pick days and times every week you can “dine-out.” You can limit it to specific days of the week or set a number of days.
My friend Sabrina T. even recommends “drinking water at restaurants at bars [instead of alcohol] because it saves a ton of money!”
She is right, the cost of these decorative L.A. drinks adds up!
And, to remind yourself that you don’t need to eat out because you “have food at home,” you can stock up on meals at affordable grocery stores like Costco, or buy unique and low cost snacks at the 99 cent store.
Hopefully, these money-saving tips will allow you to enjoy the LA dining experience without breaking your budget.
4. Consider Living East
If you want to save money, the East Side is where it’s at.
Yes, Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills are the cities we romanticize when we think of Los Angeles.
But, unless you’re a multi-millionaire or you’ve inherited property in those areas, just stick to the East Side.
In fact, the Top 6 Most Affordable Cities in Los Angeles are all in the eastern part of the county.
Now, cities like Palmdale and Lancaster can get a little too far East if your job or community is in central LA. But, cities like Carson, Lynwood or Paramount might be doable depending on your job, location and community.
Note, always check neighborhood crime rates before you select housing. In Los Angeles, safety can vary from street to street, so do your due diligence.
5. Choose your car wisely
With more than 80 incorporated cities, most people know that they need a car to navigate through the vast region of Los Angeles.
While it might be tempting to purchase a cheap car to get from A to B, car maintenance expenses can quickly add up as you trek your cheap car around this spread out region.
One way to find a car that is both affordable and reliable is to search online for car auctions in the area. These auctions typically have a wide selection of vehicles to choose from, and you can often find great deals on slightly-used cars that are still in good condition.
It’s also worth checking out online classified ads to see if there are any good deals on cars in your area.
Parking
And, once you find that perfect car, my friend Chidinma U. recommends you to always plan for parking. She says, “Avoid paying for parking. Pray for an open meter or take public transportation when going downtown.”
She is absolutely right.
Parking in Los Angeles is a whole business. Some of these parking lots will charge as much as $60 per day.
On top of that, parking rates increase dramatically for major events.
When headed to a Lakers Game at Crypto.com Arena, a USC Football game at the Coliseum, or any other major event, consider taking the bus, riding a scooter or riding the Metro.
You can also plan for parking ahead of time by selecting your parking spot online.
Can you afford living in Los Angeles?
Whether you are a recent graduate, young professional, or simply looking for ways to make your dollar go further, I hope that the tips in this article provide some helpful advice.
Los Angeles can be an expensive city to live in, but with careful planning and execution, it is possible to find affordable housing and enjoy all that this amazing city has to offer.
Have any questions about our recommendations or want more information?
Leave a comment below!
