UK citizen wanting to move to LA
May 11th 2010, 10:07 am
#46
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Location: Phoenix, Arizona
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Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
My sister saw Sadegh's apartment for the first time this past weekend...she called it cute, charming, and vintage...until she found out it was $1,300 for that old, dinky place...LOL
Rene
May 11th 2010, 10:15 am
#47
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
Just as a comparator. We're renting in LA because my other half is there temporarily for a year. It's a nice apartment in a reasonable enough area, small but new and two bedrooms. Rental is $2700 per month and I believe the one bedroom units are about $1800. That's a whole lot of $$$$ and doesn't include any other day to day costs.
We live out in the burbs, have a large, 3 bed detached with pool and its not much more than that.
Still alot more than what you would pay in the majority of areas in America though.
May 11th 2010, 10:19 am
#48
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Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
Unless you get a rent-controlled apartment in LA that sounds about right.
May 11th 2010, 11:52 am
#49
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Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
We paid $2,200 per month for an apartment in NJ 14 years ago...utilities not included.
May 11th 2010, 1:00 pm
#51
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Location: MA, USA
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Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
I'm living in the burbs and that kind of money won't get you much of a decent apartment, never mind a nice house....I'm rather lucky to be living in the pit that I am
May 11th 2010, 1:37 pm
#53
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Location: Cornwall >>> Marin, CA >>> Cornwall!
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Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
LOL to the last post...
i think i may have to go for 3months and see what happens...
From what america seems like and from the amount of times i been there, it looks like a better way of life out there...
In the UK we got rubbish weather, sky high prices on everything, and tax set to rise in the next few years due to a rubbish government. PLUS there is no way in HELL i could afford to buy a house in London without cutting my limbs off for money...
I can afford to quit my job and see what happens for about 1 year but anything ater that i`ll defo need a job. But hopefully 3months out there should open my eyes if the place turns out to be rubbish....
i think i may have to go for 3months and see what happens...
From what america seems like and from the amount of times i been there, it looks like a better way of life out there...
In the UK we got rubbish weather, sky high prices on everything, and tax set to rise in the next few years due to a rubbish government. PLUS there is no way in HELL i could afford to buy a house in London without cutting my limbs off for money...
I can afford to quit my job and see what happens for about 1 year but anything ater that i`ll defo need a job. But hopefully 3months out there should open my eyes if the place turns out to be rubbish....
May 11th 2010, 2:15 pm
#54
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
You won't get anything great for under a grand, but if you are single and just want a pad there's lots out there. A quick look on Craigslist in the Valley gives you:
1 bed Apartment $899
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736400471.html
2 bed Apartment $1,100
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736376917.html
4 bed house $2,400
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736267921.html
May 11th 2010, 2:53 pm
#55
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Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,174
Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
I think because LA and the surrounding area is so huge, you can get some real bargains if you are prepared to commute. We originally wanted to live around Burbank but could only get an apartment for our budget. Moving 20 miles out gives us a house.
You won't get anything great for under a grand, but if you are single and just want a pad there's lots out there. A quick look on Craigslist in the Valley gives you:
1 bed Apartment $899
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736400471.html
2 bed Apartment $1,100
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736376917.html
4 bed house $2,400
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736267921.html
You won't get anything great for under a grand, but if you are single and just want a pad there's lots out there. A quick look on Craigslist in the Valley gives you:
1 bed Apartment $899
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736400471.html
2 bed Apartment $1,100
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736376917.html
4 bed house $2,400
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736267921.html
May 11th 2010, 6:29 pm
#58
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Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 978
Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
Hmmm well we're downtown Glendale, it is a new apartment (we're the first occupants of ours) and it is 2 bed/2 bath. It is a nice apartment, but it's still a lot of money for rent every month!
May 11th 2010, 8:58 pm
#59
Busy at Work
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: New Haven, CT
Posts: 888
Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
I think because LA and the surrounding area is so huge, you can get some real bargains if you are prepared to commute. We originally wanted to live around Burbank but could only get an apartment for our budget. Moving 20 miles out gives us a house.
You won't get anything great for under a grand, but if you are single and just want a pad there's lots out there. A quick look on Craigslist in the Valley gives you:
1 bed Apartment $899
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736400471.html
2 bed Apartment $1,100
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736376917.html
4 bed house $2,400
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736267921.html
You won't get anything great for under a grand, but if you are single and just want a pad there's lots out there. A quick look on Craigslist in the Valley gives you:
1 bed Apartment $899
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736400471.html
2 bed Apartment $1,100
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736376917.html
4 bed house $2,400
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...736267921.html
A lot of apartment buildings in LA County have that certain "period" look to them...and perhaps they do look like prison boxes, but I got used to seeing them and didn't think much of that.
LA can be a nice city to live in, but it has always given me a sense of isolation -- everything's spread apart so much and not many places are within walking distance. Heck, people drive even for 1-2 blocks. It just never has that sense of an urban setting that I tend to like. The weather is dry in summer, and doesn't get *too* hot. It does rain quite a bit during winter and some years there were floods and my apt got all wet.
I can see some people feeling that it's an overrated city (I think it is as well), but if you ask a lot of Southern Californians, they can't imagine themselves living elsewhere.
On the other extreme, you have Manhattan which is densely packed with people, and you can hardly get much personal space. Driving's a pain in Manhattan but the borough is divided into neighborhoods and you can usually get what you need within walking distance.
Last edited by lifehouse51; May 11th 2010 at 9:00 pm.
May 12th 2010, 3:14 am
#60
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: UK citizen wanting to move to LA
Those are really cheap apartments for LA County. However, it seems like they're all in San Fernando Valley...personally I'm not really big on that area, but to each his own liking.
A lot of apartment buildings in LA County have that certain "period" look to them...and perhaps they do look like prison boxes, but I got used to seeing them and didn't think much of that.
LA can be a nice city to live in, but it has always given me a sense of isolation -- everything's spread apart so much and not many places are within walking distance. Heck, people drive even for 1-2 blocks. It just never has that sense of an urban setting that I tend to like. The weather is dry in summer, and doesn't get *too* hot. It does rain quite a bit during winter and some years there were floods and my apt got all wet.
I can see some people feeling that it's an overrated city (I think it is as well), but if you ask a lot of Southern Californians, they can't imagine themselves living elsewhere.
On the other extreme, you have Manhattan which is densely packed with people, and you can hardly get much personal space. Driving's a pain in Manhattan but the borough is divided into neighborhoods and you can usually get what you need within walking distance.
A lot of apartment buildings in LA County have that certain "period" look to them...and perhaps they do look like prison boxes, but I got used to seeing them and didn't think much of that.
LA can be a nice city to live in, but it has always given me a sense of isolation -- everything's spread apart so much and not many places are within walking distance. Heck, people drive even for 1-2 blocks. It just never has that sense of an urban setting that I tend to like. The weather is dry in summer, and doesn't get *too* hot. It does rain quite a bit during winter and some years there were floods and my apt got all wet.
I can see some people feeling that it's an overrated city (I think it is as well), but if you ask a lot of Southern Californians, they can't imagine themselves living elsewhere.
On the other extreme, you have Manhattan which is densely packed with people, and you can hardly get much personal space. Driving's a pain in Manhattan but the borough is divided into neighborhoods and you can usually get what you need within walking distance.
We live in the Valley, and I often come across people who say 'I hate the valley, I never go there'. Other than it gets too bloody hot I don't really see the difference to any other generic community around here.
I have no plans to leave LA at the moment, but certainly won't be here for ever, I find it a soulless place.
