Cost of Living in Los Angeles (Santa Monica, Brea: sale, apartments, rental)

[MissThreadBare]

Hi guys! I have compiled a list of regular living expenses that I would come across in my day to day life in Australia. I am hoping that I could get some feedback in regards to what these items would cost in LA, more specifically (if applicable) the Santa Monica area. I have converted them to US dollars, so please provide me with answers in US dollars and I can convert them to AUS dollars at a later date when working through my budgeting spreadsheet.

MOVIE TICKETS (REGULAR)......................................... .....................14.00
MOVIE TICKETS (TUESDAYS)........................................ .....................7.50
LARGE PIZZA (PICK UP)............................................... ......................6.00
LARGE PIZZA (DELIVERED)....................................... ..........................8.50
DVD RENTAL (NEW RELEASE - REGULAR).......................................... .....7.00
DVD RENTAL (NEW RELEASE - TUESDAYS)......................................... ...1.50
GYM MEMBERSHIP........................................ ..................65.00 PER MONTH
AVERAGE FOOD COURT MEAL.............................................. ......6.50 - 8.50
AVERAGE TAKEAWAY MEAL.............................................. .........6.50 - 8.50
BROADBAND INTERNET.......................................... ..........25.00 PER MONTH
GROCERIES (ONE PERSON)......................................65.00 - 85.00 PER WEEK
WEEKLY TRAIN/BUS TICKET............................................ ....30.00 PER WEEK
AVERAGE RESTAURANT MEAL.............................................. ...12.00 - 17.00
PHONE BILL.............................................. .....................85.00 PER MONTH
ELECTRICITY....................................... ......................380.00 PER QUARTER
GAS (UTILITY)......................................... ......100.00 -170.00 PER QUARTER
NIGHT OUT DRINKING.......................................... ..................40.00 - 85.00
HAIR CUT (FEMALE).......................................... ....................50.00 - 65.00
HAIR CUT (MALE)............................................ .....................15.00 - 20.00
SUNDAY PAPER............................................. ...................................1.70
MONTHLY FASHION MAGAZINE.......................................... ..................6.50
WATER RATES............................................. ........................Landlord pays
MOBILE (CELL) PHONE CREDIT.....................................MIN 25.00 PER MONTH
SIX PACK OF BEER.............................................. .............................12.00
FOUR PACK OF SPIRIT WITH MIXER............................................. ........12.00
BANK ACCOUNT KEEPING FEES............................................4. 00 PER MONTH
BANK OVER DRAW FEE............................................... .......................35.00
MUSIC CD................................................ ...........................17.00 - 25.00
CONTRACEPTIVE PILL.............................................. ......15.00 PER QUARTER
DENTIST - FILLING........................................... ..............................100.00
DENTIST - CLEANING.......................................... ............................120.00
STANDARD BOTTLE OF SMIRNOFF.......................................... .............35.00
LARGE MCDONALDS MEAL.............................................. .....................6.50
SPIRIT WITH MIXER IN AVERAGE BAR............................................... .....8.50
BOTTLE OF BEER IN AVERAGE BAR............................................... .........6.50
STAMP FOR STANDARD NATIONAL MAIL.............................................. ...0.45
20 PACK OF MARLBOROS......................................... ..........................12.00
LOAF OF BREAD............................................. ...................................2.50
3L MILK.............................................. .............................................3.00
12 PACK OF EGGS.............................................. ................................2.50
2 LITRES OF COCA COLA.............................................. .......................3.00

[user_id]

Here is what I pay:

MOVIE TICKETS (REGULAR) - $8.00 (tickets from Costco).
LARGE PIZZA (PICK UP) $6.00 and up.
AVERAGE FOOD COURT MEAL - $4.00~$7.00
BROADBAND INTERNET $20 and up.
GROCERIES (ONE PERSON) $50/person
AVERAGE RESTAURANT MEAL - $8 and up.
ELECTRICITY $50~$75 depending on season/per month.
MOBILE (CELL) PHONE $30/month and up.
SIX PACK OF BEER Good stuff is $5~$8, can get cheaper though.
BANK ACCOUNT KEEPING FEES Most banks offer free checking.
MUSIC CD Do people still sale these?
DENTIST - FILLING $80~$200 depending on size and material used.
DENTIST - CLEANING $80~$100.
LARGE MCDONALDS MEAL - Barf.
BOTTLE OF BEER IN AVERAGE BAR - $4~$7
STAMP FOR STANDARD NATIONAL MAIL $.44
LOAF OF BREAD - $.99 and up
3L MILK $2.25 for a gallon.
12 PACK OF EGGS $2.00
2 LITRES OF COCA COLA $1.00~$2.00 depending on sales.

If you are in an apartment water/sewer/trash add around $60/month to the rate whether you are billed separately for it or not. Often apartments have no gas, its all electric.

[Charles]

A pack of cigarettes is $12?

[MissThreadBare]

Yup. And Marlboros are one of the more expensive brands. Is that cheap or expensive compared to US prices?

[user_id]

Cigarettes use to be around $2/pack ($3 for Marlboros) before they created all sorts of taxes to try to prevent people from smoking them. I don't smoke anymore, but from what I recall they are around $6/pack now.

You will also often pay more for medical insurance if you smoke and California is not smoke-friendly (well at least not cigarette smoke).

[MissThreadBare]

How would the insurers know you smoke if you just tell them you don't?

[user_id]

Originally Posted by MissThreadBare

How would the insurers know you smoke if you just tell them you don't?

You could lie, but don't be surprised when they don't pay for your care when you get diagnosed with a smoking related disease. Lying about this would be a huge gamble, its not something you can really hide. If you get private insurance you will definitely pay more if you smoke, where as an employer may or may not add a surcharge for smoking depending in their policies.

Anyhow, California is hostile towards smoking, you won't be able to smoke indoors, next to doors etc. I think the laws are similar in Queensland.

[MissThreadBare]

Yes, they are quite strict here. The ironic thing is, the law enforcers tried to implement these rules to make us all feel like social rejects, but it has actually created a lot of
camaraderie. I mean, nothing brings people closer together than crowding round a street side ashtray on a cold winter's night.

As for the insurance, I am only going to be in the States for a year. And if did cough up a lung (or something equally gross and smoking related), I'd high-tail it back to Oz faster than you can say "free health care".

[David Aguilar]

-MOVIE TICKETS (1) (REGULAR) $10.00
-MOVIE TICKETS (TUESDAYS) (not sure what Tuesday has to do with anything), but matinees (afternoon) could be around $7.50
-LARGE PIZZA (PICK UP) (only if it's a one topping special) $6.00
-LARGE PIZZA (DELIVERED) -- most pizza places won't deliver orders for less than $10, most deliveries equal about $20 after delivery charges and tip
-DVD RENTAL (NEW RELEASE - REGULAR) could be as low as $1 from a Redbox $1-$5
-DVD RENTAL (NEW RELEASE - TUESDAYS) again with the Tuesdays? $1-$5
-GYM MEMBERSHIP $39.00 PER MONTH
-AVERAGE FOOD COURT MEAL 6.50 - 8.50
-AVERAGE TAKEAWAY MEAL $9-$14
-BROADBAND INTERNET up to 40.00 PER MONTH
-GROCERIES (ONE PERSON) 65.00 - 85.00 PER WEEK
-WEEKLY TRAIN/BUS TICKET -- where are you going? City bus is probably $2-$3 per trip.
-AVERAGE RESTAURANT MEAL 12.00 - 15.00
-PHONE BILL (just a local landline with few frills would be $15-$30 PER MONTH
-ELECTRICITY $60-$100/month
-GAS (UTILITY) Depends on the season (and use) but could be anywhere from $5-$40/month
-NIGHT OUT DRINKING 40.00 - 85.00
-HAIR CUT (FEMALE) 50.00 - 65.00
-HAIR CUT (MALE) $10.00 - 20.00
-SUNDAY PAPER $1.25-$2.00
-MONTHLY FASHION MAGAZINE $6.50
-WATER RATES Landlord pays (not always), could be up to $30/month
-MOBILE (CELL) PHONE CREDIT a basic plan could be $60-$70/month
-SIX PACK OF BEER $7?
-BANK ACCOUNT KEEPING FEES likely free
-BANK OVER DRAW FEE (please don't do that) $35.00
-MUSIC CD $10-$17
-LARGE MCDONALDS MEAL $6.50-7.50
-BOTTLE OF BEER IN AVERAGE BAR more than draft
-STAMP FOR STANDARD NATIONAL MAIL 0.44
-20 PACK OF MARLBOROS $5-$6
-LOAF OF BREAD $1-$2
-A gallon of MILK $2-$3
-12 PACK OF EGGS as low as $1
-2 LITERS OF COCA COLA $0.79-$1.59

Wal-Mart is your friend.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

Wal-Mart is your friend.

Only if you like the type of products they sale...

Regardless, there is no Wal-Mart in Santa Monica.