What type of things can I do with annual income? (Los Angeles: apartments, rent)

[spikeboy25]

This is more for curiosity than anything else. If I moved to the Los Angeles area and made about $40K to $50K a year, would I be able to live comfortably. Meaning:

Safe (though not necessarily upper-income or even middle class) area
Decent apartment
Be able to get around without a car
Have some extra money to go to the movies and eat out (probably only twice a week).
Have enough money to fly back home in the eastern US at least once a year.

I'm a pretty frugal guy so I'm not going to be spending money left and right. Just curious, because LA is so expensive yet about 10 million live in LA county, so people make it somehow.

[Charles]

The toughest one is getting around without a car.

You can probably rent a studio somewhere decent for $1500 (just guessing), check here for more specifics HousingMaps

Movies and eat out twice a week is borderline luxurious (if you don't think so, then you aren't as frugal as you think).

[BRinSM]

you can find cheaper apartments than charles mentioned, but it will depend on where you find work. LA is big, if you get a job in warner center, but prefer to live south of the hill, then you're in for a loooooooooooooong bus ride.