Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
The question was not 'How cheaply can I live in LA?' but 'Can I achieve a standard of living which makes it worth moving from a comfortable lifestyle in London?'
One of the biggest differences is going to be non-availability of public transport in this poster's case.
One of the biggest differences is going to be non-availability of public transport in this poster's case.
#32
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
I think you'll find that one car between you isn't going to be enough. If your children are involved in activities how will you get them there? Unless of course you drive your husband to work and keep the car....
You don't have to buy a brand new car, a used car for you or your husband will work just fine. Maybe I'm looking at this differently.
You don't have to buy a brand new car, a used car for you or your husband will work just fine. Maybe I'm looking at this differently.
Being without a car is even worse though, with 2 kids that young you will never leave the house, lots of neighborhoods don't even have pavements, so you can't even go for a walk around the block.
#33
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 89
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
yup, I want to make sure we can afford a comfortable enough lifestyle if we're going to move halfway across the world! I would say our life in London is comfortable, others might not...after paying our mortgage each month we have £1,300 to spend on everything else (including bills). But I'm aware that LA is a hell of a lot more expensive than London. If my husband doesn't take this job, he's been offered another in London which would bring in an extra £500/month, which is life changing for us.
So can we seriously not do with just one car? My children aren't old enough for school, surely not EVERYONE drives to work? One person in every car? Seriously? Don't people carpool, I know the public transport isn't up to much, I guess one of the reasons we're looking to live near to Santa Monica so his commute is short and easy. Would I really need to drive everywhere? Maybe I'm being really naive about this but seriously the environmental responsibility will already be through the roof with travelling back to the UK once a year!
So can we seriously not do with just one car? My children aren't old enough for school, surely not EVERYONE drives to work? One person in every car? Seriously? Don't people carpool, I know the public transport isn't up to much, I guess one of the reasons we're looking to live near to Santa Monica so his commute is short and easy. Would I really need to drive everywhere? Maybe I'm being really naive about this but seriously the environmental responsibility will already be through the roof with travelling back to the UK once a year!
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
yup, I want to make sure we can afford a comfortable enough lifestyle if we're going to move halfway across the world! I would say our life in London is comfortable, others might not...after paying our mortgage each month we have £1,300 to spend on everything else (including bills). But I'm aware that LA is a hell of a lot more expensive than London. If my husband doesn't take this job, he's been offered another in London which would bring in an extra £500/month, which is life changing for us.
So can we seriously not do with just one car? My children aren't old enough for school, surely not EVERYONE drives to work? One person in every car? Seriously? Don't people carpool, I know the public transport isn't up to much, I guess one of the reasons we're looking to live near to Santa Monica so his commute is short and easy. Would I really need to drive everywhere? Maybe I'm being really naive about this but seriously the environmental responsibility will already be through the roof with travelling back to the UK once a year!
So can we seriously not do with just one car? My children aren't old enough for school, surely not EVERYONE drives to work? One person in every car? Seriously? Don't people carpool, I know the public transport isn't up to much, I guess one of the reasons we're looking to live near to Santa Monica so his commute is short and easy. Would I really need to drive everywhere? Maybe I'm being really naive about this but seriously the environmental responsibility will already be through the roof with travelling back to the UK once a year!
To be blunt about it, most white/middle class Americans are terrified of buses. "Speed" had to have a storyline about Sandra Bullock having her licence suspended to explain why she would ever consider getting on a bus.
Last edited by Sally Redux; Aug 6th 2011 at 9:05 pm.
#35
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 89
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
good point...ok, where do we need to live close enough for DH to bus/cycle/walk/carpoole to Santa Monica (the Yahoo Village apparently) but also a walkable neighbourhood for me and the kids
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
#37
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 89
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
well, that's as much as I know at the moment!
#38
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
If he is going to be working for Yahoo get him to find out if they offer a work commute bus, both them and Google do in Silicon Valley, they have work bus stops all over the area.
#39
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
OK looked it up, it's fairly central so possibly it could be doable if the budget stretches to Santa Monica itself or maybe Culver City
Santa Monica buses: http://www.bigbluebus.com/busroutes/index.asp
Last edited by Sally Redux; Aug 6th 2011 at 9:18 pm.
#40
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
It's a whole new world, nothing like UK. All the kids activities cost a bundle, where we are public transportation is non existent, We have one cab company in the whole county and that has two cabs, I saw on for the first time this year.
I looked at Gymboree for the little one but $50 enrollment then $65 a month was too much plus the driving for a few classes.
I just had to keep reminding myself I was in a foreign country now, and get on with it.
Now she's in school so no need for Gymboree but we drive 30 minutes to dance class weekly that is $35 a month if I went to the high pressure school it would be $65 a month.
Nursery school is $22 for every half day here. age 3-5.
No playgroups unless you want to join a religious one near us (MOPS)
Lots of kids sports starting at age 4 here, baseball, soccer, basketball run anywhere from $50 to $100 per season.
I think you need to make a list of want you have to have, then see if you can match as much of it as possible.
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
Yeah I don't think you get how different it is here.
It's a whole new world, nothing like UK. All the kids activities cost a bundle, where we are public transportation is non existent, We have one cab company in the whole county and that has two cabs, I saw on for the first time this year.
I looked at Gymboree for the little one but $50 enrollment then $65 a month was too much plus the driving for a few classes.
I just had to keep reminding myself I was in a foreign country now, and get on with it.
Now she's in school so no need for Gymboree but we drive 30 minutes to dance class weekly that is $35 a month if I went to the high pressure school it would be $65 a month.
Nursery school is $22 for every half day here. age 3-5.
No playgroups unless you want to join a religious one near us (MOPS)
Lots of kids sports starting at age 4 here, baseball, soccer, basketball run anywhere from $50 to $100 per season.
I think you need to make a list of want you have to have, then see if you can match as much of it as possible.
It's a whole new world, nothing like UK. All the kids activities cost a bundle, where we are public transportation is non existent, We have one cab company in the whole county and that has two cabs, I saw on for the first time this year.
I looked at Gymboree for the little one but $50 enrollment then $65 a month was too much plus the driving for a few classes.
I just had to keep reminding myself I was in a foreign country now, and get on with it.
Now she's in school so no need for Gymboree but we drive 30 minutes to dance class weekly that is $35 a month if I went to the high pressure school it would be $65 a month.
Nursery school is $22 for every half day here. age 3-5.
No playgroups unless you want to join a religious one near us (MOPS)
Lots of kids sports starting at age 4 here, baseball, soccer, basketball run anywhere from $50 to $100 per season.
I think you need to make a list of want you have to have, then see if you can match as much of it as possible.
It is so, so different.
Marmite needs to visit and really research this move.
#42
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
Yeah I don't think you get how different it is here.
It's a whole new world, nothing like UK. All the kids activities cost a bundle, where we are public transportation is non existent, We have one cab company in the whole county and that has two cabs, I saw on for the first time this year.
I looked at Gymboree for the little one but $50 enrollment then $65 a month was too much plus the driving for a few classes.
I just had to keep reminding myself I was in a foreign country now, and get on with it.
Now she's in school so no need for Gymboree but we drive 30 minutes to dance class weekly that is $35 a month if I went to the high pressure school it would be $65 a month.
Nursery school is $22 for every half day here. age 3-5.
No playgroups unless you want to join a religious one near us (MOPS)
Lots of kids sports starting at age 4 here, baseball, soccer, basketball run anywhere from $50 to $100 per season.
I think you need to make a list of want you have to have, then see if you can match as much of it as possible.
It's a whole new world, nothing like UK. All the kids activities cost a bundle, where we are public transportation is non existent, We have one cab company in the whole county and that has two cabs, I saw on for the first time this year.
I looked at Gymboree for the little one but $50 enrollment then $65 a month was too much plus the driving for a few classes.
I just had to keep reminding myself I was in a foreign country now, and get on with it.
Now she's in school so no need for Gymboree but we drive 30 minutes to dance class weekly that is $35 a month if I went to the high pressure school it would be $65 a month.
Nursery school is $22 for every half day here. age 3-5.
No playgroups unless you want to join a religious one near us (MOPS)
Lots of kids sports starting at age 4 here, baseball, soccer, basketball run anywhere from $50 to $100 per season.
I think you need to make a list of want you have to have, then see if you can match as much of it as possible.
#44
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
Some British people just don't 'get' that things are different. They think there must be healthcare provision for those without insurance, or concern for the environment, or easy socializing. That is the purpose of cautionary posts on here.
#45
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 19
Re: Cost of Living for a young family in LA?
If you did an objective comparison of prices for food (groceries and restaurant), clothing, cars (new or used), petrol/gas, wine & beer (staples!), electronics (computer stuff, TVs, cameras, phones etc.), services like gardening and house cleaning and so on, I'd bet L.A. would work out significantly cheaper than London. Comparable hotel rooms are twice as expensive in London, although that's probably not a relevant item
Mercer's most recent ranking of cost of living in world cities has London as 18th most expensive with LA down at #77. An on-line comparison called Xpatulator.com has London at #20 and L.A. down at #146. I'm sure there are other rankings too.
I suspect that some of the U.S. residents posting on here might be a bit out-of-date in their assessment of London prices.
Of course for any individual it depends on what you actually need to buy, and fluctuations in exchange rates make a difference too.