$48000 in LA ? (Los Angeles: apartment, rent, insurance)

[DreamerBoy]

Hi everyone !

I've never lived in LA before but I know life is very expensive there,
I've been asked by a company for a yearly rate and my proposition to them was from $48000 to $54000
Does this sounds crazy? logic? can i make it with my wife in LA with that yearly rate?

Thank you so much for you help and time

Have a great weekend

[Kings Gambit]

You also want to tell them that you expect "internal equity". Which more means that you expect to be paid within the same comp range as other employees in the company with similar background and experience. Those who work in the HR Recruiting and Compensation department (if the company has one) would absolutely know what this means.

I say this because often what one may make for a certain job in say BF Ohio, would be thousands less than that same job in Los Angeles (even if its with the same company).

What you also need to do is determine if the company will be helping you with relocation expenses. If they expect you to move from a different state to work for them, they should offer relocation assistance. Only a crappy company would NOT offer this. Where EXACTLY is the company located? You'll need to check rent prices within reasonable commuting distance to help determine if the salary is acceptable or not.

[ryanms3030]

First off, you should research average pay in LA for your job and ask for high end but it's too late for that. You should also ask for relocation assistance. A cheap one bedroom apartment in a decent area will start around $1500 so 50k to support 2 people will be doable but on a very tight budget. Where is the job located?

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by DreamerBoy

I've never lived in LA before but I know life is very expensive there...can i make it with my wife in LA with that yearly rate?

Depends on where you want/need to live in 500-square mile LA, depends on your commuting tolerance, depends on if you can live "small," depends on if you have 2 cars, and depends on if you plan to stay childfree

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by DreamerBoy

Hi everyone !

I've never lived in LA before but I know life is very expensive there,
I've been asked by a company for a yearly rate and my proposition to them was from $48000 to $54000
Does this sounds crazy? logic? can i make it with my wife in LA with that yearly rate?

Thank you so much for you help and time

Have a great weekend

Oh, goody, yet another new member starting a thread asking vague questions. Let me whip out my usual toolbelt of clarification:

- What kind of work do you do?
- Where are you moving from?
- Have you ever been to L.A.?
- Do you know where in L.A. you will be working?
- Do you currently or do you plan on having kids, pets, elderly parents or six-foot-tall cacti living with you?

Etc, etc. Give us more info - we'll give you answers. Otherwise prepare for the entire range.

[Lablitz]

Yes, you can make it. I know people who made less than 50k and survived in LA.
What is the job?

If the job is $48,000 to wash dishes, it is a good deal.
If the job is $48,000 to do emergency open heart surgery at a hospital, it is a bad deal.

[CaliRestoration]

$48,000 for two people to live in LA?

You're going to be living in some pretty rough neighborhoods.

[Mr_Geek]

Depends on your other debts entirely.

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by DreamerBoy

Hi everyone !

I've never lived in LA before but I know life is very expensive there,
I've been asked by a company for a yearly rate and my proposition to them was from $48000 to $54000
Does this sounds crazy? logic? can i make it with my wife in LA with that yearly rate?

Thank you so much for you help and time

Have a great weekend

With your wife? Will she be working? Any kids?


The biggest issue is housing cost. Plan for $1,500-$2,000 a month
Next biggest issue is car, insurance, parking, gas. Insurance is $200 a month. You'll need 2 cars if she works.


Can you live on $400/ week for everything else?

[DreamerBoy]

Originally Posted by Kings Gambit

You also want to tell them that you expect "internal equity". Which more means that you expect to be paid within the same comp range as other employees in the company with similar background and experience. Those who work in the HR Recruiting and Compensation department (if the company has one) would absolutely know what this means.

I say this because often what one may make for a certain job in say BF Ohio, would be thousands less than that same job in Los Angeles (even if its with the same company).

What you also need to do is determine if the company will be helping you with relocation expenses. If they expect you to move from a different state to work for them, they should offer relocation assistance. Only a crappy company would NOT offer this. Where EXACTLY is the company located? You'll need to check rent prices within reasonable commuting distance to help determine if the salary is acceptable or not.

Thank you Kings Gambit , I didn't know about Internal equity until you mentioned it, I will definitely discuss
it with the HR and see what they can come up with