Philly to LA...where to live? (Los Angeles, Santa Monica: apartments, neighborhoods, zip codes)

[Drayb3]

Hi everyone,

My gf and I are considering a move to LA. I may have a job offer coming up within the next month, and it would be an amazing opportunity. Some background...

We're 23 and 24, white, and I would describe us politically as libertarian. We pay about $1300 a month right now in Center City Philadelphia for a 2 bedroom apt. What could we get in LA for that money, and in what neighborhood? Neither one of us have ever been to LA before (but obviously we'd visit if I get an offer letter).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[BRinSM]

A 2br for that price will be difficult to find in the more interesting areas of LA. Hell, the last two 1br apartments I have lived in have been more than that. Ultimately though, you'll need to decide where you live based on where you will be working. If you share that, we will be able to help you out better.

PS-LA is huge and spread out and lacks a central core that the established cities of the east coast have. it is 16 miles from the coast to downtown and the area in between if filled with many, many dense and urban neighborhoods (although there are not high rises or even multi story housing everywhere). i'm just trying to give you some perspective of the size of the city (and that doesn't even include the san fernando valley.

[Drayb3]

I'd be working over near UCLA. The most we could afford per month until the gf finds a new job would be about $1600. How is Santa Monica?

[BRinSM]

santa monica is great, but $1600 probably won't get you a 2br apartment. If you look away from the coast and south of the 10 freeway, rents are cheaper but the area is kind of boring. also check out west LA opposite the 405 from ucla and south of wilshire as well as culver city.

[1200RT]

Working at UCLA, check out Santa Monica, Brentwood (90049), anywhere in West LA really.

$1600 will get you a nicer 1 bedroom, hard to find a 2 bedroom in that range. Most 2 bedrooms i've seen are closer to $2k.

Santa Monica is great, although more expensive than "Los Angeles". Santa Monica is an independent city, which is nice when it comes to emergency services/police. Santa Monica is very congested and busy, especially near shopping destinations (promenade, santa monica place) and the beach - especially on weekends. There are not-spectacular areas of SM, especially surrounding Virgina Ave park - 20th street, north of pico. Gets better as you get to teh 10 freeway.

Expect to pay $1100+ for a studio, $1400 for a normal, small 1 bedroom (older building), $1600+ for a nicer 1 bedroom and well over $2k for a 2 bedroom in Santa Monica. Subtract about $200/month for apartments in the Los Angeles zip codes, just a few streets away from SM.

[Drayb3]

A 1 bedroom would be fine for now while I'm the only one working. As soon as she gets a job we would probably afford at least $2200 a month. Now for $2200, where should we be looking?

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by Drayb3

A 1 bedroom would be fine for now while I'm the only one working. As soon as she gets a job we would probably afford at least $2200 a month. Now for $2200, where should we be looking?

Honestly, wherever you want. I would suggest moving here, close to UCLA, and exploring the crap out of LA. Theres great stuff everywhere on the west side, and with a decent budget you've got plenty of options.

If it was my money? I'd find a 1 bedroom off Montana Ave (Santa Monica) anywhere from Ocean Ave (to the west) to 14th street (to the east). 2 blocks off Montana, to either the north or south. From there, you can shoot up 26th street (turns into Allenford), turn right onto Sunset, and cruse into UCLA.

[Drayb3]

Great, thanks for the advice! I'll be looking around online for some places.