want to move to LA on a budget (Long Beach, Glendale: apartment, rentals)

[dominicanita116]

Hello,
I am 20 years old and need to get out of south florida. I have some college education, and will be an EMT next year. Between me and my husband we will be making about 50,000 between the two of us. What is a decent place for that range where I will be somewhat safe? I am originally from urban CT and NY, so I am good in the OK neighborhoods. how is the job market? My husband is a roofer/gen. laborer. how about the schools? what places should i avoid?

[Rats]

you and your husband will have an extremely hard time living here on only $50k. hopefully that's $50k after taxes, but either way, you'll pretty much be living in poverty, and will HAVE to live in those places that should be avoided. why do you want to move to LA and not anywhere cheaper?

[MightyGandhi]

I just moved here from FL to go to school on a 30k budget. I found affordable living in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Palms, and Central LA. You can definetly live in safe areas on that budget. I do not know why people say such negative things on this forum that are not based in reality at all. I researched places for 3 months and a found a great guesthouse in North Glendale for under $1000/month (including rent/util/cable/internet).

This website gives you a general idea of cost of living and safety of the cities in LA county:
lalife.com

Also, you can find cheap living in even more expensive areas of LA, you will just have to live in a crappier place. It really depends on what you are comfortable with.

Finally, I suggest using craigslist, but I would suggest not living somewhere unless you can atleast see pictures or visit there first.

[mommabear2]

Originally Posted by dominicanita116

Hello,
I am 20 years old and need to get out of south florida. I have some college education, and will be an EMT next year. Between me and my husband we will be making about 50,000 between the two of us. What is a decent place for that range where I will be somewhat safe? I am originally from urban CT and NY, so I am good in the OK neighborhoods. how is the job market? My husband is a roofer/gen. laborer. how about the schools? what places should i avoid?

I'm not really sure on the kind of life you want here but if you are not looking to buy a house (average house in L.A. County is around 530K) and if your not big into investing for retirement then you can probably do okay. The average cost of a 1+1 apartment in L.A. is around 1,400/month. Check out Westsiderentals.com - you might be able to find something there (but they charge a fee) or Craigslist.

[Think (Freedom)]

SoFL is getting just as pricey as L.A... I live in broward now and and minimum rent is about 1000 for a decent place. I think if you can make it here, you can make in CA. Good luck dominicanita

[jessemh431]

Inglewood really isn't as bad as people say it is. Neither is Hawthorne or Lawndale, especially for the price you pay and how close to the beach you are. Also, try North Hollywood.

[ShariP]

You can buy a fairly nice 1- or 2-bedroom condo in Long Beach for around $300,000. In good areas rent for a 1BR will be approximately $900-1000/mo and for a 2BR is about $1500/mo.
I moved to Long Beach from NYC and I thought I had arrived in paradise in comparison!! There's lots of work for handymen-contractor types. I don't know about EMTs.

[mokinoie]

Or, live outside the city and commute! Commuting is unpleasant but on that salary, so are a lot of your other possible options. In Pasadena and beyond, you can rent a 1/1 or even a 2/1 for 1,000/month. Now, if you want to buy, esp. a house, I don't think there is anywhere nearby that is affordable.

[UB50]

If you are an EMT, you should be making better than $50K a year if your husband is working. Check out the paramedic salaries. I'm sure they are pretty good.

[jessemh431]

oh. avoid the areas around downtown. you can live in downtown (it is expensive though) but nowhere around it. of course avoid compton. lancaster and palmdale area is unsafe and full of white trash. dont mean to offend people that live there, but people from West LA just view you as that.

look into the inland OC areas. the OC doesnt have high crime and it's cheaper. just don't live in santa ana there.