moving to los angeles (Ontario, Thousand Oaks: cul-de-sac, appointed, apartment)

[Emma2000]

Hi im Emma, Im an 18 year old from England and am considering moving to Los Angeles, I was just wondering if anyone knew how much a basic 1-2 bedroom apartment would be to rent. I am also wondering if anyone could tell me what life in los angeles is like
Thank you.

[RedNC]

Originally Posted by Emma2000

Hi im Emma, Im an 18 year old from England and am considering moving to Los Angeles, I was just wondering if anyone knew how much a basic 1-2 bedroom apartment would be to rent. I am also wondering if anyone could tell me what life in los angeles is like
Thank you.

Rent depends on what area you are in. Figure from $800. to $2000. a month.
For $800. you will need to speak spanish, if not bring a lot of money.

For a look at life in L.A. stop by Tijuana Mexico on the way and that is exactly what it's like.

If you are going to L.A. because you think everyone is in show business you will be very disappointed.

Be advised if you are an 18 year old female you should not come alone. L.A. is a real harsh place and everyone will try to take advantage of you. Please be carefull.

[enlightenme]

I agree with the other person about it not being the best place to move out to alone as a young woman. You will probably only be able to afford a studio apartment in a decent area because it is a fairly expensive city. If you are from London, I know you are use to a very high cost of living, so it may not be as shocking to you. Mainly what worries me about your move is your safety. I am an over protective mother and I would die if my daughter wanted to move to LA. I am also not from a big city, but a smaller coastal town, so cities in general overwhelm me. Once again, if you are from London, it may be a piece of cake for you.

Now to answer your question about what the life is like. Take to heart this is coming from a person who has always lived about 1 hour from LA. It is smoggy, full of traffic, street people, sprawling, poor public transit systems, pretty unfriendly people and all around frustrating by the end of the day. There are cool parts if you have a car and can drive around to other areas like Santa Monica, Hollywood, Sunset Blvd, Melrose Blvd, and other touristy spots. But, I have alway liked living far enough away that I can go home and leave it all behind. To me, it is a way better place to visit than live.

If anything, try to convince a girlfriend to come out with you for a vacation and then see for yourself. I adore London, but I don't know if I could live there either.......but I sure had fun on vacation!

[fastfilm]

Emma, please read as many of the threads here in the Los Angeles forum that you can stomach. This is not a very nice place to live unless you are quite wealthy, as it is genuinely dangerous for those who are not. The image of L.A. existing in television and films rests upon the ease of filming productions here with the studio services and production personnel in place here, not because it is an interesting area. Some of the answers of us locals here may seem exaggerated at first read, but I can assure you they are not.

Emma, if you can't plow through the threads, read my last post to the "Edwards AFB" questioner here. (this forum doesn't like us to repeat posts.) I think it applies to you too. I think everyone here is worried about your misperception of L.A. from afar.

[ralph]

LA is not as bad as these people think.

[fastfilm]

Yes it is, Emma et al. Most American cities, a normal amount of vigilance is required in certain areas, as with every large city in the world, a fact of urban life everywhere. In Los Angeles, anyone who looks different than an illegal alien will be a target in all areas except the richest ones. If you make the move anyway for the "excitement," please do not check out clubs etc. at night without a friend accompanying you. You would have a little too much "excitement."

Ralph, yes it most definitely is as bad as others and I have detailed. I know the facts of my own life and locale of fifty years. People who live in only the richest areas defend same. I can't.

[ralph]

Please I can list you normal cities in LA. I don't understand why you guys complain about illigal immigrants or traffic? Every city in America has them. I know some very wealthy people and you couldn't tell. If it was so bad then why do people continue to move there?

[fastfilm]

Ralph, my very first post here states my claim/opinion that Los Angeles is only liveable if you're quite wealthy, illegal or violent. Many wealthy people move here for business reasons and can be coccooned up in the impassible or cul-de-sac hilltops in gated mansions and never breathe any but rarified air, safe and smug (not a typo!)

As for the the other two, we're talking EXTREME numbers, with statistics and demographics wholly unlike those of any other American city. 300 illegals enter Los Angeles daily. These numbers have overwhelmed and closed emergency hospitals, clogged our already saturated roads and freeways. We have a majority of residents now who do not know basic American laws, and a majority of that majority who don't even care about those American laws anyway. Having a majority populace who, say, have no cognizance of American driving laws on the road 24 hours a day means you WILL have serious accidents caused by them constantly, in a gigantic, spread out city with poor mass transportation options as is. This affects your personal safety.

The violent illegals especiallly love it here, as special order 40 by the L.A. Police Dept. means they can never be deported no matter how heinous the offense. That's unique to L.A. as well.

The quality of life here for the middle class is more similar to that of denizens of unfortunate slums in other cities, despite how cute our overpriced houses look on tv. Middle class neighborhoods elsewhere in the U.S. do NOT feature constant gunfire, gang assaults and general lawlessness as a constant, daily fact of life. Have you ever been outside of L.A.? Every place has distinct provincial characteristics, but L.A. is a true aberration. People move here specifically to break American laws. 'Can't wait to flee!

[ralph]

So your telling me if I go to Thousand Oaks,Valencia, or Ontario which I consider middle class I'm going to get shot? There are even nice parts of the Valley. I have lived in Utah,Idaho,California,and Arizona. There are nice things about every city but they all have illigals and crime. I don't live in LA now but still have family there and visit frequently. If eveyone is as paranoid as you your not going to like any city. City Data has the top 100 least safe cites and none of them are LA. I could post this on other forums and people would agree with me. For some reason you have had a bad experience but you need to let go. Not everyone who moves to LA is rich and living in Malibu or Brentwood.

[RedNC]

Originally Posted by ralph

So your telling me if I go to Thousand Oaks,Valencia, or Ontario which I consider middle class I'm going to get shot? There are even nice parts of the Valley. I have lived in Utah,Idaho,California,and Arizona. There are nice things about every city but they all have illigals and crime. I don't live in LA now but still have family there and visit frequently. If eveyone is as paranoid as you your not going to like any city. City Data has the top 100 least safe cites and none of them are LA. I could post this on other forums and people would agree with me. For some reason you have had a bad experience but you need to let go. Not everyone who moves to LA is rich and living in Malibu or Brentwood.

When Emma asked about LA I picture LA proper. Although Thousand Oaks and Valencia is in LA Ontario is not.
Ontario is mostly Latino, although there are some better places most of it is urban blite.
Thousand Oaks and Valencia have some very nice areas and it’s real expensive.
Some how an 18 year old from a foreign country wanting to live in LA I don’t picture the areas you listed. I do however picture the Sunset Strip, Melrose, and Hollywood areas. The areas I listed are magnets for young people and many feel comfortable there. It’s a party area with lots to do if that’s what you are into. It is also a place that attracts predators that are looking for their next victim. I think it would be irresponsible not to advise someone of the possible risks.