Moving to Los Angeles Alone? Here Are the Things to Know

There are already many reasons why the City of Angels might be the right fit for you. After all, it’s one of the best places to live in California for young adults. But, you still want to learn a little bit more about it before you move and get some first-hand moving tips. We understand just how overwhelming relocation can be. So, to make it all more comfortable for you, we’ve gathered some of the essential info to keep in mind when relocating alone to the big city of LA.

The First Thing You Should Know Before Moving to LA – the Cost of Living Is Rather High

When you start getting ready for your relocation, one of the first steps to take is to plan your moving budget and decide whether you want to have the cheapest way to move out of state or to move with professionals. While you’re dealing with finances, you should also think about your monthly expenses when you relocate, too. How much money should you make to be able to afford everything necessary? This is a crucial question to answer before you take any further steps.

Since you’ve picked one of the most expensive cities in the country, brace yourself for rather high prices everywhere you go, so try to reduce the costs of moving as much as possible. From housing and food costs to sports and leisure, everything can be rather pricey here. According to Numbeo, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center is about $2,200. If you’re willing to go to the outskirts, the rent for a flat of the same size would be about $1,800.

As for food, it is more expensive than the national average, especially when it comes to eating out. While a meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs about $15, be prepared to pay much more if you want to check out some of the top-ranked restaurants in LA.

So, how much should you earn to live comfortably here? Let’s see.

How Much Will Living in LA Cost You and What Salary Do You Need?

The data on Numbeo shows that a single person spends close to $1,000 a month without rent. The average person should earn a yearly salary of at least $75,000 to cover all the expenses. But, we’re sure you want to be able to afford a little bit more than that, right? This means that your salary needs to be much higher. By higher, we mean that you should earn at least $150,000 a year to live comfortably around here.

Where Should You Look for a Home?

One of the major factors determining your budget is housing. So, where should you look for your future home? You might be looking for safe neighborhoods in Los Angeles. If so, be sure you use some tools to help you check how safe your neighborhood is. You may not be that concerned about safety, but you’d rather live anywhere as long as it’s close to work.

People have different criteria when looking for a home. But what’s good news is that no matter your expectations, you’ll have plenty of options. As you can guess, if you’re looking for a safe, peaceful, and affordable place to call home, the suburbs of Los Angeles are probably your best shot. And you shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that suburbs are only meant for families. Relocating to the suburbs can be quite exciting for people living alone, too, especially here in LA.

Whether you’re planning to buy or rent, you could use some house hunting tips when looking for a home if you don’t’ know how to cope with stress when moving. When you find the perfect place, it’s time to figure out how to change your address when you move. But, before you can come to this part, you first need to decide which neighborhood to choose. So, let’s take a look at some of the top-recommended areas you should consider when relocating to LA alone.

Best Neighborhoods When Moving to Los Angeles Alone

Have you figured out where should you move? Because if you didn’t know that there is a wide range of top-notch neighborhoods to choose from if you’re planning to move to LA alone – about 470 of them, to be more precise. Depending on whether you want to stay close to the beach, in the very buzzing downtown, or just close to work, different areas might seem more or less suitable. Regardless of your personal preferences, here are some of the most popular neighborhoods when living in LA alone:

• Downtown
• Culver City
• Silver Lake
• Highland Park
• Manhattan Beach
• Glendale
• South Park

Since you’re relocating alone, you might be interested in finding out more about some of the best places to live in Los Angeles for singles, too. Single people in LA usually flock to the affluent Los Feliz neighborhood, exciting Ocean Park, or always vibrant West Hollywood, among others.

If you’re looking for ways to save some money, there are some cheaper options, too, especially if you’re looking to move into a smaller home. Some of the most affordable places in Los Angeles include Lakeview Terrance, Crenshaw, Mission Hills, Westwood, and Sunland.

You Should Have a Job Waiting for You

If you’re relocating for work, be sure you remember the most important relocation questions to ask your employer. If you’re relocating for a relationship or you have some other reasons to move, you’ll have to go through the actual job hunting. Make sure you do so as soon as possible. As previously mentioned, the cost of living is rather high in LA, so it’s crucial that you find a well-paid job so that you can afford to live there.

Tips for Finding Employment in LA

If you don’t know how to find a job when moving to another state, don’t worry about it – we are here to help. One of the things you can do is to look for work online. For instance, you should check employment opportunities on Indeed. You might also find something in the newspaper adds. Healthcare, information technology, environment technology, and trade are among the most popular industries here.

To make your job search easier, it might be a good idea to start with some of the top employers first. Among others, some of the top employers in LA County include the following:

Considering LA’s thriving job market, you can be sure that there will be plenty of choices. However, it might be tricky to find work that pays well enough for a comfortable lifestyle, which is why you should start your search as soon as possible. Plus, don’t forget about the fierce competition.

You’ll Need Your Car to Get Around

Considering that most people here rely on their vehicles here, it might be a good idea that you, too, bring your car when you move. Wherever you’re relocating from, we assume that you won’t drive all the way to your new place. And why would you go through such trouble? Relocation per se is tiring enough.

Transporting a car across the country probably sounds quite troublesome, so you’re probably wondering, how does car shipping work? The safest way to deal with it is to hire recommended and top-rated Los Angeles movers who can provide you with auto transport services and deliver your four-wheeler to your new home.

Biking Is Always a Great Alternative If You’re Not in a Hurry

Those who are looking to save a few bucks on gas and avoid being stuck in your vehicle during traffic jams can hop on a bike and get anywhere. Biking is quite popular in LA, so you can be sure there are many biking trails to get you to any part of the area. If you don’t have a bike to bring, you can always rent one. You can rent a bike for about $30 per day or $150 per week.

Things to Do When Moving to Los Angeles Alone

Be it just a quick walk alongside the beach or a guided tour around the area – there’s always something to do in LA and the advantages of moving alone here are numerous. Are you thrilled about getting a picture near the iconic Hollywood sign? Or you’d like to take in a stunning view from the Griffith Observatory? Do you feel like lying on the beach all day after a long week? You can do all that and much more as soon as you are done with unpacking after the move, with plenty of options being free of charge. One thing’s for sure – you can never run out of fantastic places to see and fun activities to do in the City of Angels.

Go on a Guided Tour to Get to Know the City of Angels

For a start, we assume that you’re looking forward to getting to know the area better. You can, of course, take a map and walk around town by yourself. Exploring your new area that way can be a great adventure. If you want to learn even more from a guide, there are excellent LA tours you can sign up for no matter if you move during the holidays or any other time of the year.

Paint the Town Red

Since LA is one of the top US cities when it comes to vibrant nightlife, going out is always an option. Whether you’d like to go to a beach party or head to one of the hottest nightclubs downtown, there’s no doubt that you’ll have a blast. And speaking of beaches, you can enjoy miles of shoreline even more during the day.

Spend a Lovely Day at the Beach

The most populous city in California is also great because you have easy access to the beach. What better way is there to spend a hot summer day, right? Whether you enjoy swimming, sunbathing, or you love beach bonfires, you can do all that and more along the 75 miles of shoreline in LA.

Do Sports Outside or Catch a Movie in the Open Air

One of the many great things about LA is that there are plenty of outdoor activities to take part in all year long. Being active is a great way to help avoid getting relocation depression too. If you want to do some exercise, there are miles of running and biking trails, as well as various outdoor courts for sports such as volleyball and basketball. For some more time outside, be sure you save the date for a movie in the open air.

Go Hiking and Explore LA’s Best Trails

Hiking is probably one of the top free things to do in LA. There are numerous hiking trails to explore and enjoy stunning views of the city. You just bring hiking shoes, water, and sunglasses and put on some sunscreen, and you’re ready to discover LA in all its splendor. Furthermore, if you are moving with your dog, you will always have a hiking partner.

Like What LA Has to Offer? Feel Free to Pack Your Bags and Get Going

Now you’re ready to become a real Angeleno and remember, the best time of the year to move is whenever you’re ready. Don’t worry about how to tell your friends you’re moving. They’ll love the idea of spending a couple of days at the beach when they come to visit. And what about making new friends in a new state? That won’t be a problem at all, considering how open and friendly people are around here.

If you feel anxiety about the relocation process there are always ways to solve it. One of the most efficient solutions is to simply step aside and leave it all to experts to handle, they can help you avoid common moving mistakes. You should only think about stuff like packing tips and tricks on how to pack clothes for moving, and that one shouldn’t be troublesome since you only need summer clothes. If you have some extra stuff lying around, you can always donate unwanted items, and at the same time reduce your relocation expenses. Remember that you can easily find some free packing materials for moving too. And if you packed furniture but don’t have the room for it, use storage services.

All in all, feel free to turn to someone for any help you need and enjoy planning your new life in the sunny City of Angels.