Discover the sunny and lively world of Los Angeles – a city renowned for its thriving movie and television industry. While Hollywood adds allure, LA is much more than that, offering a modern and upbeat megalopolis with diverse neighborhoods and ample career opportunities beyond the silver screen.
Moving to LA requires careful consideration of where to live. The city sprawls over a large area, comprising various neighborhoods, each with its unique character. Exploring the city before the move allows individuals to find a place that fits their lifestyle and is convenient for work.
MyMovingReviews experts provide insights into the cost of living in LA, which varies depending on the location, travel, and income. It advises readers to choose reputable local movers and obtain binding estimates to manage their moving budget effectively.
The article addresses common misconceptions about Los Angeles, such as the belief that the beach is always hot and that everyone works in the entertainment industry. It emphasizes the diversity of the city and how it offers much more than the stereotypes portrayed in movies.
It’s sunny, it’s warm, it’s famous and it’s LA! Los Angeles is a popular destination for vacation and for living. Some people say living is just a little bit easier and happier there.
Yet, residents know that the traffic sometimes is bad and that not only movie stars live in LA. Certainly, there is more than just the movie industry in this city.
Thus, don’t worry if you plan on relocating to LA, there are other career opportunities if you weren’t born a movie star. Los Angeles is a modern 21st-century megalopolis with an upbeat downtown and prominent neighborhoods and surroundings.
What to know before moving to Los Angeles?
It is the Mecca of the movie and television industry. It is known for the sun, the smog, and the huge stretches of beaches we have also seen in the movies. But, it is the sun. California is the sunny state and LA averages 329 sunny days a year.
The sun does something to our organisms and psyches that makes us happier and shinier. Many people who have moved to Los Angeles have experienced and testified to that phenomenon. Another popular side of Los Angeles is its diversity.
There are hundreds of ethnic suburbs and small sister cities in the metro area. The business here is blooming as this is one of the largest economies in the states.
Hollywood was officially crowned when the “Hollywoodland” sign was erected in 1923. Now the sign says only “Hollywood”
Los Angeles is the second largest US city. As if moving to New York or Chicago, it would be great if you could visit Los Angeles prior to the move to find your bay or valley.
The sprawl of LA includes a variety of cities and neighborhoods, all with a diverse character. A pre-move trip will give you the opportunity to explore the city and pick your place.
Remember that the spread of the metro area is almost 500 sq. miles radius and location is important. This is not just a city with surrounding suburbs, it’s a huge web of very distinctive villages, so you must find the place that fits your style and is close to work.
Some suburbs are more family-oriented, while others are more hip and single oriented. The City of Angels divides into coastal, city, Hollywood, west and valley communities. Homes in the city are a bit expensive, just like Hollywood and the surrounding communities.
Echo Park and Silver Lake are some of the more affordable communities in these areas. In the coastal communities, unfortunately, you won’t find anything affordable. In Burbank and the other valley communities, you have a better chance of finding a moderate rent price.
Los Angeles’ salaries and taxes
Amongst the things to know before moving to LA, consider that the cost of living will very much depend on where you live, how much you travel, and how much you make.
The average salary in the second most populated city is $85,000 according to PayScale.com while the average rent is $1,872 as reported by Apartmentlist.com. The average home price is $922,548 in accordance with Zillow.com.
Avalara.com states that the sales taxes rate in Los Angeles County is 10,25% as this is the total of state and county sales tax rates. The California state sales tax rate is currently 6% and the LA County sales tax rate is 0.25%.
Moving Tips For Transplants
Los Angeles moving advice
Moving to The City of Angels has its pros and cons. You have probably found a job at one of the many big corporations with headquarters and chosen your LA. Yet the actual moving to LA needs some consideration too.
You should carefully choose professional LA movers to help you relocate. It is good to turn to the local to you moving companies, as they can visit you at home and give you an accurate in-house moving cost estimate no matter if you are moving cross country or locally within the state.
Based on the prices of 600 reviews on MyMovingReviews.com, a very rough ballpark estimate for moving within California is between $1484 and $4241. Get your accurate custom moving quote here.
Getting a binding estimate will help you to stay within the limits of your moving budget. However, you should research your moving company by reading moving reviews online and asking for references.
Word by month is the best recommendation you can get – always take moving advice from people that have experienced relocation to the City of Angels. So, when you get multiple quotes think about what the moving cost includes and what else you have to pay.
Knowing the average moving costs in advance is always a good idea. You may need storage for a week, so ask for prices or seek a professional moving company that offers free storage for long-distance moves.
The cost of your moving will vary depending on the size of your home. On average moving from East Coast to West Coast could cost you between $3000-$15,000, based on your weight, while moving from Midwest to West Coast could be around $2000-$5,000 for the same amount of weight.
Thus, contact a few moving companies and see what kind of deals they offer. Some companies travel to California more often than others, so they may give you a better overall cost to hire them.
So, consider a company that offers popular moving destination flat rates. There is a lot to research about the city of LA and about the moving company, so don’t waste time because the moving date is coming close.
New York to Los Angeles Moving
Plan way ahead if you are about to move east to the west coast. It will avoid any moving mistakes or bad experiences.
For those of you who are thinking of “abandoning” New York City and relocating to Los Angeles, here are a few tips to help you start the moving process right. There are many things to know before moving to Los Angeles if you want to relocate from state to state.
The first tip is to start looking for a reputable moving company at least a month prior to your relocation. Organizing a cross-country relocation takes time and you would also have to consider that delivering 1 bedroom apartment can take up to 21 days after the pickup based on the schedule of the moving company you’re using just because of the distance and that most moving companies combine shipments to Los Angeles and the area.
An approximate cost for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment to move from New York to Los Angeles or near LA – you are probably looking at a price range starting from $3000 and going up based on the weight and the additional services you request from the moving company. Having a smooth move to New York or Los Angeles can be a challenge.
Are you looking for an answer to the question “Should I move to New York or Los Angeles?” and what the costs would be? Read our New York moving guide.
Top Myths About Los Angeles
Before moving to Los Angeles is good to bust the myths. There is a lot this city can offer, yet part is just myths. Some of the misconceptions have been created by the movies.
Myth number one is that it’s hot at the beach. I was there in the spring and the water was cold as an iceberg coming from Antarctica. Bring a sweater because it is not like in a movie scene.
Myth number two is that everybody works in the entertainment industry. It is a huge industry and moneymaking machine, but not all locals are movie stars.
Myth number three is that it is always sunny in California. Well, it’s not always sunny in LA.
What do you need to know about moving to LA? Let us know in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is it a good idea to move to LA?
LA can be a fantastic place to live for those who thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with access to various entertainment, cultural events, and career opportunities. However, it may not be the best fit for everyone, so weigh the pros and cons carefully before making your decision.
What is a comfortable salary in Los Angeles?
A comfortable salary in Los Angeles is generally considered to be around $75,000 to $100,000 after taxes or more per year for a single individual. However, this figure can be higher or lower based on factors like family size, housing preferences, and personal spending habits.
Is LA the most expensive city?
The most expensive cities in the world are New York and Singapore, and the 4th place share Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
I love the way you wrote this article. This is wonderful. I do hope you intend to write more of these types of articles. Thank you for this interesting content!
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Vaailka, do you know James Dunham who wrote a guide for house moving? I need help with locating him. Thanks, Tom
I love the way you wrote this article. This is wonderful. I do hope you intend to write more of these types of articles. Thank you for this interesting content!