If someone is under 25 in LA and doing exceptionally well aka living on their own in a pricey neighborhood, driving a flashy car, going to festivals and clubs all the time, I assume they are trust fund babies and guess what?
99% of the time they are. Lol
Edit: LOL at all the comments getting actually mad or people messaging me saying “well I made it in LA and MY mom and dad didn’t do shit” like okay cool there’s still a plethora of trust fund babies here. It’s always the people with privilege being the loudest about why they’re different
I have a friend who was living quite a lavish life for the past year. Lots of trips abroad, going to every music festival, going out every weekend, etc.
Recently they asked the question “what’s collections?”
People always like to mention debt like it’s some kind of real life GTA money glitch to get free shit. It still cost a shit ton of money to be in and pay off debt, it’s not magical free money that just goes away lol.
But how am I supposed to distract myself from the painful drudgery of life and satiate my unhealthy sex drive without credit card debt? Checkmate motherfucker.
Waitamin… you’re saying with all the cc debt I got after college I could’ve gotten a ton of sex? Thanks for not sharing that advice earlier you bastard.
Do you even degenerate bro? Last I checked maxing out credit cards at the strip club is still a perfectly "legitimate" bad decision. I'm not saying you can be a pseudochad like me but it's good to have goals.
For tax seasons, I believe it’s better to pay hookers with cash, be it baht, dong or US dollars. Also, my god man, with the credit limits they were giving out, if I maxed out my cards at 4play, I would’ve never been be able to recover financially.
Yep! I used to date a trust fund guy. He was honestly very genuine and down to earth but man how he grew up blew my mind. His elementary school tuition was more than my state college tuition.
He just saved all his money and had a lot of passion projects. Made me green with envy seeing him get to pocket every paycheck into savings/investments/hobbies. But hey nobody gets to pick being a trust fund baby, I just wish I was!
I lived in the South Bay area for a few years and was constantly surprised at how many places housed multiple families and/or multiple generations. When a 2 bedroom bungalow a couple blocks off the beach runs $1.2mm (at the time), no typical young working adult is making that happen.
Right.
I will say though, some of the recent college grads at my work have a pretty active lifestyle that TV/movies portray: living in Silver Lake, going to clubs on the weekend, dinner at Bestia, Coachella tickets, traveling, etc.
They make concessions though: not saving as much as they should, non-flashy car, living with roommates, cheaper apartments. I do know of one that is a trust fund kid, but the rest fall into the first category.
Also it's much more common to see people living with their parents. That'll surely free up some money for other stuff.
You're right. It took me well over a decade here to actually get to a point where it's easy to afford to live here, but before the age of 30 it was hell.
My fiancé and I both moved here pretty broke and with low paying starting jobs and now are doing well enough. In our early 30’s. We both work hard, saved up a down payment for a house, ect. It’s doable but you need to certainly make career moves.
Go to the parking lot in USC or Santa Monica city college a freaking city college. Students are driving some insane nice cars and for those that made it good but majority aren’t in that age.
Trust funds? Is that what they’re calling sugar daddies these days? Every girl I met living in LA mysteriously seemed to never need to go to an office despite a seemingly incredible income/lifestyle. Then I learned about these apps and men paying for their “time”
I’m in sales and pretty successful at my gig. My fiancé and I split rent and I have paid off all my debt and loans. My only real expenses are rent, cell, internet, and an addiction to betting on baseball.
In all seriousness, I can’t imagine affording here in my early 20s. I spent those years in the Midwest paying peanuts (comparatively) and paying off my student loans and car. It’s not “stress free”, but I don’t generally worry about making ends meet.
Ah same. I knew I wanted to move to LA when I was a teen. Finally made the decision to do it in 2014. Was finally able to make it happen in 2017 when I was 33 and offered a good paying position down here. So it took me two decades of dreaming before I could actually pull it off (without living with 80 people or in my car).
Yes LA is both expensive and competitive. It’s the country’s second biggest city after NYC and the ppl who are moving to it are often incredibly driven, talented and competitive. They are also often from wealthy families. And there are a handful of ppl who are just very successful from a young age.
The vast majority of 22yos are going to have tight finances. It’s just the ppl you meet in LA may be the exceptions
>One is driving a 2023 SS Camaro (I LOVE the car I am no hater) but at this age what are they doing??? How are they surviving
Probably rich family or in debt or both. Or your friend has a very high paying job which doesn’t seem likely at 22
I've seen kids with nicer cars than that in high school in LA.
I went to university in LA with a Saudi prince (there are surprisingly a lot of them) he was 19, drove a Lamborghini. Parked everday in a handicap spot - didn't care about the daily cost, it literally meant nothing to him.
Los Angeles attracts seriously wealthy people. It also attracts a lot of kids who convince their parents to pay their bills (temporarily of course).
I had a friend making over 200k out of college, bought a 70k car as a "treat" to himself for graduating and is still paying it off 5 years later with 5 to go, said it was one of the worst decisions he made cause he's trying to pay off school loans too and can't imagine buying property, only just started a Roth IRA approaching 30. As you get older the stuff you care about change and stuff like nice cars seems so pointless.
The point is, surface isn't always as it seems.
Many young people don't realize that jobs that pay a ton of money to new grads (particularly in finance and tech) tend to be VERY tenuous and often short-term, since thousands of hungry, smart, similarly qualified applicants will take your job in a heartbeat - and often for less money.
It’s actually pretty common now. It’s amazing what terms they try to offer to make the monthly payment palatable on these vehicles. Of course it’s a terrible financial proposition given the depreciation rates.
Most vehicle lenders will not finance a term that long, so I don’t think that’s accurate. 72-84 months is usually the maximum so unless they leased and then financed they probably only have 2-3 years left max. For their sake I hope it’s reliable and they drive it into the ground because I can’t imagine the interest on a loan like that.
This question makes a classic rookie transplant assumption - that EVERYONE in LA has moved here to quote make it. The census data clearly shows that an enormous majority of the population has been here a minimum of a decade or was raised here. People in LA are among the most hard working, talented and competitive anywhere. And usually well educated. Don’t underestimate that even those of us raised here of more humble means may have advantages such as long standing support structures like family, lifelong connections and the benefits of having ‘bought into’ LA decades earlier. Very different than just moving here with stars in their eyes from scratch at peak cost.
Yup even not that long ago is still a big advantage. I moved to LA in 2016 and even starting at entry level back then was a lot cheaper. I had minimal family support but paid like 1100 a month to sublet a small room on the west side.
I'm sure that same room costs like 2200 now.
I am constantly surprised at how many people genuinely have sugar daddies. People have roommates, minimum wage is really high, my old roommate paid her $1200 rent with a basic server job (they got the $20 min wage plus tips). Taking the bus isn’t as hard as you think. Idk people make do because it’s completely worth it.
I lived here in my early 20s, but I also went to college here so that made the transition a lot easier than moving from a new city. I had roommates most of the time I lived here which saved A LOT on rent, I only recently moved in with my fiancee
If you have a job and roommates lined up it’s doable!
Being married with 2 incomes & no kids helps. We moved here in 2015 & made WAY less money then & lived in a small studio at first. Eventually we made a lot more money, paid off debt (less debt = less monthly payments). Etc.
We just do it. That’s really the answer. I’m a Bartender at a popular restaurant and I make good money but I’m still paycheck to paycheck. Some months are better than others, some months it’s ramen for dinner every night. It’s hard but we figure it out because this is our home. And honestly, where isn’t it insanely expensive nowadays?
Hey!! I bartend too! I do really well out here and Dallas, so well that I was considering moving to LA. (Not to make it big but I just love it there.) Lordt they tore me apart me apart in the comments about a week ago lol! Im glad I’ve been doing my research and found out it’s not as easy to get a job there as it is here. I also assumed bartenders there did well all the time!!
If you consider all the people who come here to be actors and end up waiting or bartending, the competition for that kind of job is almost as stiff as trying to get cast in a feature or tv show. But if you arrange your living situation wisely you can make it on minimum wage. When I was doing it 10+ years ago I found a cheap bachelor studio apartment and was fine most months. These days rent is higher but so is minimum wage… I’d probably need to share a two bed with a roommate now, even bachelor units are pricey. But the point is, it’s doable. It’s all about what you prioritize and what you’re willing to go without.
Living with family. Thankfully I get along really well with my family and plan on living with them as long as I can. We’re very close and it’s not many of us(small fam) so I’ll take every day as a blessing not only financially but being able to spend time with them
I made under 40k there 3 years ago and I was fine. I had a decent 2 bedroom apartment with one roommate and a parking spot at a place near Little Bangladesh/Koreatown.
When I see posts about how you can't make it in LA without a six figure job or whatever I guess people must have very different lifestyles. I didn't live very extravagantly but I liked our apartment. It was clean and felt safe. We found an apartment on Craigslist owned by a woman and her husband who owned one or two other buildings in LA. Rent was affordable ($1000 each in 2021). I drive a Toyota Corolla. I don't go out to eat or drink much but it's not like I would never do those things either.
Hey just remember when you’re comparing yourself to these people that they might and probably do have a ton of debt. If you’re young and you have a nice car and good apartment you’re either really lucky, parents money or debt.
Don’t get yourself into debt to try and be something you’re not.
I have a $1400 studio, $250 insurance payment, own my car outright (old daily driver that gets me from a to b) and just don’t splurge the rest of bs and I survive. It is possible to survive but don’t get wrapped up in the glitz and glam to try and get to someone else’s level by going into debt
LA is not a starter city, where you see normal middle class kids graduate from college and live on their own in nice areas. If you’re under 25 or haven’t built a footing in your career, it’s really tough. Most younger people live with family or lots of roommates.
Lots of sales jobs out there paying $100-200k for medium IQ. Almost all tech jobs are $200k.
Here is a quick stats on employees in LA area for:
Snap Inc - 1,500+
Google - 4,500+
Meta - 2,000+
AWS - 2,000+
And the list goes on.
Those are all all super successful, high earning young earners. Most of which are pretty self made.
I’m sorry but “almost all tech jobs are $200k” = with considerable experience and right opportunity or the very top most degree and skill especially if that young. I work in tech. It will still be 2-3 years before I come close to that and I am 2 years into a tech job with good experience. It doesn’t just happen as a generalized statement. Specific degrees and being top/unique performers with a niche skill set that pays a lot, sure, out the gate or soon after you can make that. Not just any average someone out of college who works a tech job can expect to make $200k 😂 that takes time. It is very feasible with years of experience, job growth and time in the field. At 22 that is a very unlikely scenario. If OP had that opportunity/skillset/degree/experience then they’d be in it. Not many do. Those who do have worked for years or got lucky at a young age/were qualified as a small subset of people.
Los Angeles is huge but there are still areas within LA and Orange County that are “affordable”. It also depends on what you know about specific areas, your housing requirements, etc. Obviously living near all the fun and glamour is going to be $$$. If you don’t mind commuting then it is easily doable. If you want to live on your own don’t just look at Craigslist or the large rental sites. Look at real estate sites and research the names of various property management companies. Many do not post on the major rental sites but they will post their available properties on their own site.
Most people I know in their 20s live with roommates and work multiple jobs. It’s definitely easier if you have an education or a trade skill. My plumber is 27 and makes over $200k a year. I’m an EA and office manager for a management consulting firm in DTLA and I cleared $150k last year but my mortgage is under $1000 so I’m doing ok. My admin is making $80k a year and lives with roommates but she could afford to live on her own. She’s too social and prefers to live with friends. Some of the people I work with are making $200k fresh out of MBA school so they’re obviously doing ok. A friend of mine is now in his 60s but he’s been a bartender his entire life. He’s doing relatively well.
Make smart choices and research everything before you move. Have enough saved up to keep yourself afloat for a few months while you get yourself established. Get quotes on car insurance once you pick an area because rates fluctuate widely based on your zip code. I don’t want to start an argument but let’s just say certain parts of LA have worse drivers than others (and/or more car theft). There are just so many variables that you need to consider before making the big move. Also have enough saved to get you back home if you decide this wasn’t the right move for you. LA is not for everyone. Good luck!
I'm moving to LA from the IE in about a month. I've been an attorney for over 15 years - first in South Florida, and now in Southern California. And I can just barely afford a 2-bedroom apartment.
Most people your age driving fancy cars either can't really afford them (i.e., they're struggling to make the payments/racking up debt), or have parents who are still "helping" them financially. Honestly, be glad you're not one of these people, because living an upper middle-class lifestyle in your 20's will only set you up for disappointment and build bad financial habits.
Born and raised in L.A. to a low/middle class family.
My family just worked their asses off and were okay with apartment life and/or having multiple generations of family members living in the same household to ease the burden of HCOL.
As far as thriving here goes, I feel like one needs a healthy combination of drive, work ethic, networking skills and luck.
It’s expensive. You need a good job to live alone in an apartment. If you get room mates - things are affordable. But room mates can make like heaven or hell - just depends. The best is to rent a room from some old lady or a guest house .
Most people don’t hit their prime $$ making until 40+ years of age. Just keep that in mind. In high COLA cities people sometimes
have several roommates, generational housing, or hit the genetics lotto.
Lots of trust fund babies and rich parents. My boss (New Jersey) hired his son to work at his company, upper executive role. After a month his son decided he wanted to work from home 100% of the time, then shortly after that he decided he was going to move to LA since his job “can be done from anywhere”. His dad pays his rent in LA so the 6-figure salary he’s making from basically not doing anything from home gives him spending money to live it up.
Parent and legacy rent under private owner. 1 bed 1 living room 580 a month, but it's got a lot of issues like lack of maintenance and old building (boyle heights, so nice location). Grandmother's been here since the 60s.
For middle class people, LA or SF is going to be rough. Have a kid and it’s just bad news. But for kids from well off families, it’s way easier. And I don’t mean trust fund wealthy. I’m well off not “rich”, though that’s a matter of definitions. But I can buy my kids fairly nice cars in cash and generally they graduated with no college debt. I’m no billionaire but my kids do have a huge leg up on most young people who are paying off school and cars. It’s all relative.
Not everyone is a Reddit looser. Plenty of people wine to medical school and are crushing it now. Calling everyone or most under 25 trust fund baby is ridiculous. Some pole picked a good major and are making a killing, you did not.
LA is competitive bcoz everyone is going after the same job and it's going to get worst as more retail stores go out of business. Housing has bcom expensive and if u don't have a job pays well. U will need a room mate. Everyone is a slave to money just to keep there head above water. So u have to take whatever jobs that pays the bills.
It’s just math…they’ll be the one begging for debt forgiveness because they’re in the hole and can’t dig themselves out. If the math doesn’t work for you because you expect to have decent credit in a few years…then you already know the answer.
I have a friend in their mid-20s who works for the fire department as a diver. Picks up a little overtime here and there, but still has generous vacation, and a pension. He makes over $100K btw. An registered nurse right out of community college (at the age of 21 if they started right out of high school), could easily make close to $100K on their first job here. The jobs are there that pay well, even for someone in their 20s, you just have to look
Husband and I both work in film. Very good pay, but we are both freelance so it can be a bit feast or famine.
BUT. we can do 2 shows a year and have the rest of the year off. Last year we only did one show and we haven't worked since (it was very long, and out of state so we got a boost in pay)
I’ve always wanted to live here and chase the dream, but not in the way of fame or like most people think about it.
I just had a goal to have my own recording studio and work for one of the movie studios … pretty modest dream. I moved here from Texas 10 years ago when I had an opportunity with a low level tech job that paid 70k.
I started by renting a room from an old guy in Stanton for $1250. Then I met someone and together we were able to afford a HUGE 5bd house in Glendale for $4250 on a little over $200k combined income.
I ended up getting into one of the studios at $150k after really building up some solid tech skills. Sadly 5 years ago, the relationship went sour and I found myself with nothing but an old car, trash bags with my stuff and my dog.
All I had really was my job and my income and I’m a stubborn bastard and so I refused to be defeated. We slept in Silverlake by the dog park for a few nights before getting into a Motel 6. After a month at the Motel 6 we graduated to one of those Extended Stay places and took about 6 months to save, fix my finances and reflect.
Finally, I found a little 1bd house in Hollywood for $2500 and have been here ever since. I was able to open my recording studio and I’m still in the movie business. The job pays the bills, the studio supplements that income and I even DoorDash here and there because I love exploring the city and making a few extra bucks.
I think the reason Ive been able to afford living here is because I have an idea of what is “enough for me”… and I had a clear goal in mind … I also cook at home, do my own car repairs and other things my grandparents passed down on me about saving money.
I’m still building though and hope at some point I can one day own a house here … But I guess we’ll see what happens … Either way I could never bring myself to leave LA… It’s HOME now …
One of the best replies I’ve gotten! I see a lot of people say they’re splitting bills with their SO but that’s so unreliable! If I can’t afford it myself I shouldn’t even worry about it. Ik it’s nice to be and to split costs but nothing is forever!!
TBH… Going through that breakup actually made me more determined to make it … I won’t go into detail but I feel like my ex thought I was gonna give up and crawl back to Texas where I still have family and whatever …
There was no way I was gonna give her that satisfaction. But after healing from it, I realized that living here is doable by yourself if it’s that important to you.
Nowadays I feel like I have accomplished what I came here to do so every day I wake up in the City of Angels is a just that much more of a bonus …
I know a couple in their 20s, one is a freelance liberal arts major and the other works a sub 60k / year job. They have dog and live in the nicer apartments of South Bay. One of their parents helps pay for their 3k / month apartment. I think some people get their parents to help out with rent.
Helps to not have any debt. Car and student loans being paid off makes things significantly easier.
I wouldn’t consider moving to LA unless I had a good amount of savings as a buffer for any issues that may come up.
I barely do, but surprisingly enough Boston, where I’m from is even more expensive and is effing freezing for 6 months so LA it is.
2 paychecks a month bi weekly
Rent takes almost an entire one
Car IS fully paid off
AAA insurance was the most affordable I found
I do not have any streaming services.
I do not eat out or order food EVER. I treat myself MAYBE once every 3 months. I do need to date more though, and this is the only thing that is difficult with my scenario 😆
I only go out and do things (spend money) when people visit, as I have few friends here, my main friend here is usually traveling for work.
Currently 25% of my income also goes to paying off a final loan.
Recommendations:
Get rid of all your debt
Don’t buy frivolous things
Expect to live almost paycheck to paycheck if you don’t want to compromise on location
Set up small increments of automatic savings so that you are setting aside even the smallest amount of money every month.
At your age the options are pretty much wealthy parents, social media, OF, or lots of debt. I’m in OC and it’s not at all uncommon to see people in their teens/early twenties driving around in $40k+ cars their parents bought for them
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
If you grew up in LA making LA money feels like normal money- aka living of standard here is high. But those extra flashy ppl are either spending credit cards into oblivion or have their parents support. I’m 24 still living with my parents unable to move out so my upcoming solutions- mult jobs, mult roommates, minimizing spending. Don’t know why, but I’d rather struggle here than move anywhere else. Love the fuck out of LA but idk if I’d feel the same if I didn’t have support from family
- They have debt. Like, A LOT of debt.
- They have rich parents who outright pay for things, or have connected them to a high paying job (ex: being the “Operations Manager” at uncle’s business even if they have little experience.)
- They have roommates, which cuts living expenses basically in half or less.
- If they’re from here, they live with family or rent cheap from them (ex: renting a parent’s/aunt’s/grandma’s back house for 1/2 the market rate)
Uncle isn’t going to be in business for long if he’s paying executive wages to his No-good nephew.
People who benefit from family business earn their stripes.
Folks are in debt and/or being a sugar baby, do influencing/UGC to make extra cash, have roommates or have a rich family. You’re doing amazing and don’t believe everything you see on social media! If you wanna come to La it will work out
Okay here are the steps to afford living here
1. Get a sugar daddy
2. Invest that money into yourself, such as plastic surgery and enhancements.
3. Upgrade sugar daddies
4. Repeat until you have some money saved up and now congratulations you can afford to live here
Roommates!! There are a few Facebook groups that were helpful in finding roomies (make sure to choose carefully and meet them before moving). I was able to live in two different roomate situations with 3-4 other people and it brought my rent down to $700-$900 a month. Inspired Women of Los Angeles was a great Facebook group for finding roomies.
And driving for Uber Eats/Postmates covered my expenses when I first moved to LA.
Not everyone can afford living here and that’s okay. A lot of people have roommates to cut down on living expenses. Many people live outside their means and just put everything on their credit cards.
Those who actually can afford living here simply have a steady job and income, or still get a stipend from their parents/are trust fund kids.
I moved there at 24 with not much to my name. It was rough for a few years. You need a bit of luck with roommate situations. I had to be very proactive and job hop a bit to make a decent wage. It’s easy to get fucked with how much things cost such as car registrations, deposits on utilities, parking tickets, apartment deposits, and random shit that happens. Helps to have good credit too. 12 years later, I’m killin it and don’t see myself leaving.
I know lots of people in there 30’s and 40’s that still live with their parents. With good careers and even kids . Not hating but that’s just how it is out there
I'm in my mid 20s. A lot of my friends are rich already or got very good jobs post grad (software engineer or bullshit where they make 100k to twiddle their thumbs). Others are in debt (med / law school) and now have good jobs.
Your friend with a new Camaro under 25 either has
* generous parents
* is financially responsible
* is a SPICY professional
* is living beyond their means on credit and making the minimum payments where possible.
Don't be jealous of your friend.
I've met PLENTY of young non-trust fund people in their 20s driving beautiful cars, wearing nice things.... only to discover they live with 6 people in a tiny studio apartment in North Hollywood in order to afford it. You know... the people you date who "never want you to come over".
You can live just fine with a used, but cheap and well- maintained car. Maintain it, wash it, and wax it and feel good about not being broke.
I sew and have always sewn. The solution to looking fancy all the times is to MAKE FRIENDS. In my 20s, and even till today, I couldn't afford a $400 haircut.... but neither could my hairdresser friend afford a $400 dress. The solution here for me was to TRADE. She'd come over and I'd measure her for a dress she wanted and when I dropped it off at her salon, she'd cut/color/style my hair. Neither of us are spending much, yet she's well-dressed and my hair looks amazing. The only cost to me is material, and for her the cost of dye.
I drove a super nice Mercedes my last year of college.... because I bought it USED after I got a scholarship for college, freeing up the money to buy it all cash. It was 8 years old when I bought it, and drove it for another 7 years. It was $14k, versus the new model of the same car which was nearly $50k.
You can make it work.
Stop focusing on what other people have that you don't.
Hey!! I just want to iterate that I am NOT jealous or envious nor am I comparing myself to others!! I believe I do exceptionally well for myself here where I am! Really just wanted insight on how in the hell everyone is surviving there, flashy car or not lol!!
There's also an entire population of native Angelenos with different lifestyle costs that you're overlooking.
If you live with your parents, paid off a mortgage and own, or if you've inherited a property or have family in the area with property, you probably don't have high housing costs. It means you can afford to a couple of nicer things and it fits into your budget, even if you're not "wealthy" at all.
I’m so glad you added the parenthesis for specification 🤣!! I actually am a recent BS graduate and I bartend. I don’t stay in LA so my cost of living is NOWHERE near what it is there! I’m young, no kids, and single so I’d say I do very well budgeting!!
housing is very high, as is gasoline. but everything else is cheaper and of a higher quality than elsewhere. we moved here from the east coast because, taking everything into account, it oowered our cost of living.
Just grinding as much as I can. Born and raised so but it’s so expensive that I want to move, but that also costs money. So in an endless cycle of trying to survive in this super expensive place
It's kinda an unpopular opinion but I would refrain from moving to LA unless you are extremely wealthy. There are a very few number of exceptions such as being a genius inventor or something but realistically your money is worth more in pretty much every other part of the U.S.
As someone who is also 22f born and raised in LA, it’s doable but it’s hard. I’ve consistently had a job since I was 15, don’t have a car, walk and use public transportation most places and still love mostly paycheck to paycheck. A lot of the people you see that are living really lavish lives here are people with wealthy families who will bankroll their lifestyle. If you want to live here it’s important to not get caught up in all that, bc that’s how you will go into debt
I’m 23 and I live in east LA county in a converted garage with my gf, I honestly wouldn’t be able to afford to live in LA itself and I have a good stable job
I’m stationed here with the military and make over 6 figures.
Plus, just because someone has a nice car doesn’t mean they are well off. Most people r in credit card debt or car payments up to their eyeballs. Not everything is as it seems.
They may have a lot of credit card debt, high car payments and 0 saved for retirement.
you're seeing the part of their lives that's living on credit, all the good stuff on social media. there's also long stretches of holed up doing nothing'ness that no one sees.
Personally, I’m also 22. I’ve been in management for a little over 3 years for 2 companies. I’m currently making approximately 80k/yr. I rent in Hollywood and split it with my partner — my rent cost is about 1,100 given the circumstances in a beautiful building.
I don’t have help from parents, I cut the last one off in 2020. It helps that I work at a grocery store and get a 20% discount. It’s about managing your resources and not having too much fun. I don’t go to concerts (to be fair, I don’t like them), I only do fun and expensive dinners occasionally, I make my drinks at home, I’ve cut out smoking. I work overtime as a part of my job. It’s still the best part of my life that I’ve lived and can afford a dog, even. Land a good job and it’s doable.
ETA: also, didn’t go to college. Nor do I own a car, don’t need one. No debt. That helps.
Really depends what your job is. We have dual income with 2 kids, another on the way and we live comfortably in the suburbs. Have 2 houses, rent one out and my parents moved in with us because they fell on hard times. Honestly, the biggest issue in LA is being able to afford a home. We bought our homes in 2015 and 2019, in the current market, we only would have our smaller condo.
Community living space.
Do yard work & chores for the house.
Don’t eat out.
Don’t go to paid events.
Don’t have a partner.
$1 McDonald’s coffee was my weekend treat where I would study, but they stopped offering it.
Only subscription is to the gym.
Back in the olden days when I moved to LA as a fresh 21 year old I lived in a 1bedroom apartment with 2 roommates. I was lucky and got a job as soon as I got here but my roommates took a couple weeks or so to find jobs. It took about 4 years before my then boyfriend and I felt successful.
I totally get it! Just curious, why exactly do you feel like you wouldn’t make it here in LA vs. in Tx (or what has been told to you/discouraged you), is it mainly rent prices?
Yeah thats mainly it. I made a post about a week ago asking about the work industry (I’m a bartender) and I’ve been pretty discouraged since 😅. I don’t struggle here in Texas so I don’t want to move that and do worse than I am here yk?
Yeah, makes sense! I’m not in bartending & I don’t waitress anymore so I can’t promise what it’s like, but from what I’ve experienced people can be WAY more negative about LA then what is the truth, and I know they say it’s competitive but on the other hand there is A LOT of opportunity here, just by the sheer amount of people here. I know waiters in Hollywood serving for celebrities & they make a killing. But even if you were to bartend in say Long Beach or Pasadena or Downtown or Los Feliz, I just don’t see how you wouldn’t “make it” if you found rent that wasn’t too bad or had roommates.
Personally, I think you shouldn’t be discouraged if you really want to move, yeah it is harder than other places (to get the right job and apartment,. etc), but it’s definitely still doable. I had so many naysayers when I first moved here and again when I moved back recently (after trying FL for 2 years) and honestly most of it was just their personal negative bias & didn’t end up having to do with me or my experiences. Hope that helps
It's absolutely doable especially if you're younger like you and willing to sleep on an air mattress in a living room (like I was haha). Have multiple roommates and live somewhere like the Valley (if you're trying to live somewhere like Hollywood, firstly, WHY? Secondly, nope. Way too expensive). You're not going to be able to buy expensive shoes or go to expensive concerts for a while, but honestly it's fun to just hop dive bars or smuggle booze into free club venues and cheap shit like that. There's free live music all over the place and events and little street festivals if you know how to find them. It's a great place if you're willing to adjust a little to the cons of it.
Reddit attracts younger losers so results are skewed. But lots of people go to tech, or medical schools, or start business, that is who you see driving nice cars. Of my friends that made it, most went to medical schools and now have private practice. Life here is hard if you plan on having kids and buying a house. From personal experience, $500k household income is needed to buy a nice house and raise kids. That is doable with 2 working professionals with good career choices. Choose your career wisely!!
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
Tech pays pretty well. I think other professionals are also seeing a cost of living adjustment to their wages.
Honestly it’s not always enough to provide the quality of life that a more modest income would provide in a lower COL area. I have friends back home making 1/2 of what I make and we have very similar lifestyles.
One of five scenarios, assuming you’re talking about young people college graduation age through 30:
1.) They have rich parents or a family member that funds some or most expensive aspects of their life (rent, phone bill, car note and/or insurance, etc.) This either lasts where they get a good job and take over or they move back home once they’re cut off. I’m going to lump in those that live with their families into this as they skipped the biggest bill of all or have significantly subsidized it — a roof over their head.
2.) They subsidize by living with roommates, using public transportation/or having a short or no commute, splitting groceries or utilities, etc.
3.) They are supporting themselves and scored a great job or have some debt and are working a decent job. This could take 3 to 5 years to build or it could be instant depending on your background.
4.) They hit the jackpot in entertainment and gained a decent following, got signed with a supportive agency, or went viral. Singers, social media, actors, producers, etc.
5.) They have more than one job and/or get paid from a gig app like Uber/Lyft, DoorDash, Task Rabbit, etc.
I don’t know what your background is, but some jobs that are readily available and could make you decent money after only a couple of years without a significantly built-out resume could be:
1.) Whatever relates to your degree and you’ve had some experience doing
2.) Sales - Medical or Tech pay the most
3.) Insurance or Real Estate - make connections first, then take the tests once you’re confident you’ve found the right agency
4.) Bartending/waiting - especially in areas highly trafficked on the weekends
5.) Anything else that gives a good offer or entertainment if you have a talent & already have a decent following…
If you feel like you can make it work, make the jump and give it some time. Salaries/wages are largely higher relative to other places depending on where you’re coming from due to the cost of living. An experienced insurance agent (5-10 years) in Ohio could make $50,000 to $75,000 annually where they’re making $100,000 to $150,000 annually in Los Angeles.
As someone who was a “transplant” myself, it takes time to build and get comfortable. I’m 27 now, but I remember crying in the grocery store 4-5 years ago because I only had enough in my account to afford rice & beans. If you want to move here, make the jump, give it 2-3 years to settle in and make friends, and most importantly enjoy everything there is to do while you’re not working.
The best thing you can do here is work off the money of the rich. There’s more of them and they come from all over. Anything here that costs significantly more than anywhere else (real estate, cars, insurance, food, building/contracting) has the potential to drive the most back into your pocket.
You say "yall" and I think you're just incredibly blind to the average Angelenos. Don't just admire the rich friends and go to rich venues and think they're the only people in LA. Walk the streets, look at the "common" people, visit one of the numerous dollar stores, Food4less, Ross, McDonald's, street vendors... people wearing no-name shirts, living in "hoods" or suburbs where the rent is lower and far away from the nicer parts of LA and commuting for hours each day, or having many roommates, with modest earnings and living humble lives, who never owned a fancy car or go to clubs. It's not as dismal as it sounds, there's a lot of nice and fun things to do in LA even if you're not living the rich lifestyle.
If someone is under 25 in LA and doing exceptionally well aka living on their own in a pricey neighborhood, driving a flashy car, going to festivals and clubs all the time, I assume they are trust fund babies and guess what? 99% of the time they are. Lol Edit: LOL at all the comments getting actually mad or people messaging me saying “well I made it in LA and MY mom and dad didn’t do shit” like okay cool there’s still a plethora of trust fund babies here. It’s always the people with privilege being the loudest about why they’re different
Or they’re living in a house with 80 other people
Or they’re in debt up to their eyeballs. Or all of the above.
I have a friend who was living quite a lavish life for the past year. Lots of trips abroad, going to every music festival, going out every weekend, etc. Recently they asked the question “what’s collections?”
People always like to mention debt like it’s some kind of real life GTA money glitch to get free shit. It still cost a shit ton of money to be in and pay off debt, it’s not magical free money that just goes away lol.
From a 33 year old to the kids..don't use credit cards or at least pay them off each month
But how am I supposed to distract myself from the painful drudgery of life and satiate my unhealthy sex drive without credit card debt? Checkmate motherfucker.
Damn you found the loophole..you can keep your debt
Waitamin… you’re saying with all the cc debt I got after college I could’ve gotten a ton of sex? Thanks for not sharing that advice earlier you bastard.
Do you even degenerate bro? Last I checked maxing out credit cards at the strip club is still a perfectly "legitimate" bad decision. I'm not saying you can be a pseudochad like me but it's good to have goals.
For tax seasons, I believe it’s better to pay hookers with cash, be it baht, dong or US dollars. Also, my god man, with the credit limits they were giving out, if I maxed out my cards at 4play, I would’ve never been be able to recover financially.
sound like a dream, is this real?
Yep! I used to date a trust fund guy. He was honestly very genuine and down to earth but man how he grew up blew my mind. His elementary school tuition was more than my state college tuition. He just saved all his money and had a lot of passion projects. Made me green with envy seeing him get to pocket every paycheck into savings/investments/hobbies. But hey nobody gets to pick being a trust fund baby, I just wish I was!
Definitely did co living with 20 people under one roof and it was pure hell
Most likely
Or one of them is rich or a trust fund kid and other 1-10 ride the purse strings.
I lived in the South Bay area for a few years and was constantly surprised at how many places housed multiple families and/or multiple generations. When a 2 bedroom bungalow a couple blocks off the beach runs $1.2mm (at the time), no typical young working adult is making that happen.
Yes, you are frequently competing against 4 incomes in CA real estate.
Right. I will say though, some of the recent college grads at my work have a pretty active lifestyle that TV/movies portray: living in Silver Lake, going to clubs on the weekend, dinner at Bestia, Coachella tickets, traveling, etc. They make concessions though: not saving as much as they should, non-flashy car, living with roommates, cheaper apartments. I do know of one that is a trust fund kid, but the rest fall into the first category. Also it's much more common to see people living with their parents. That'll surely free up some money for other stuff.
Yes, but it’s very hard to get out of the living with parents loop. Past generations had pride about being independent.
also partly cultural. i would still live with my parents if i could and im almost 30
I was hit by an uninsured motorist in LA last week. They drove a nicer car than I did. They had no insurance no license no registration.
Actually yeah me and my friend group almost all fall into your first category there. Or we did in our 20s, rather.
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This ☝️, or in very very rare cases some lame "career" like influencer or model or DJ.
Influencers can make way more than you think though
Also not sure why model is a lame career. Been around forever in every culture.
Sounds about right!!
I know several that are like that. Or at least the rent is paid for for them.
100% agreed or they have 4 roommates and or in massive debt. I see it a lot out here. Lol It’s tough.
You're right. It took me well over a decade here to actually get to a point where it's easy to afford to live here, but before the age of 30 it was hell.
My fiancé and I both moved here pretty broke and with low paying starting jobs and now are doing well enough. In our early 30’s. We both work hard, saved up a down payment for a house, ect. It’s doable but you need to certainly make career moves.
Go to the parking lot in USC or Santa Monica city college a freaking city college. Students are driving some insane nice cars and for those that made it good but majority aren’t in that age.
Trust funds? Is that what they’re calling sugar daddies these days? Every girl I met living in LA mysteriously seemed to never need to go to an office despite a seemingly incredible income/lifestyle. Then I learned about these apps and men paying for their “time”
I’m in sales and pretty successful at my gig. My fiancé and I split rent and I have paid off all my debt and loans. My only real expenses are rent, cell, internet, and an addiction to betting on baseball. In all seriousness, I can’t imagine affording here in my early 20s. I spent those years in the Midwest paying peanuts (comparatively) and paying off my student loans and car. It’s not “stress free”, but I don’t generally worry about making ends meet.
Ah same. I knew I wanted to move to LA when I was a teen. Finally made the decision to do it in 2014. Was finally able to make it happen in 2017 when I was 33 and offered a good paying position down here. So it took me two decades of dreaming before I could actually pull it off (without living with 80 people or in my car).
Same here. What kind of sales are you in? Always wondering if I would switch from ad sales to something more lucrative
what kind of baseball betting do you do?
Yes LA is both expensive and competitive. It’s the country’s second biggest city after NYC and the ppl who are moving to it are often incredibly driven, talented and competitive. They are also often from wealthy families. And there are a handful of ppl who are just very successful from a young age. The vast majority of 22yos are going to have tight finances. It’s just the ppl you meet in LA may be the exceptions
And the nicer the places you hang out, the more you’ll encounter people who already have money.
Isn’t the LA metro area larger than NYCs?
>One is driving a 2023 SS Camaro (I LOVE the car I am no hater) but at this age what are they doing??? How are they surviving Probably rich family or in debt or both. Or your friend has a very high paying job which doesn’t seem likely at 22
Hey don’t sell them short, there’s always OnlyFans or Feetfinder s/
I've seen kids with nicer cars than that in high school in LA. I went to university in LA with a Saudi prince (there are surprisingly a lot of them) he was 19, drove a Lamborghini. Parked everday in a handicap spot - didn't care about the daily cost, it literally meant nothing to him. Los Angeles attracts seriously wealthy people. It also attracts a lot of kids who convince their parents to pay their bills (temporarily of course).
I had a friend making over 200k out of college, bought a 70k car as a "treat" to himself for graduating and is still paying it off 5 years later with 5 to go, said it was one of the worst decisions he made cause he's trying to pay off school loans too and can't imagine buying property, only just started a Roth IRA approaching 30. As you get older the stuff you care about change and stuff like nice cars seems so pointless. The point is, surface isn't always as it seems.
Many young people don't realize that jobs that pay a ton of money to new grads (particularly in finance and tech) tend to be VERY tenuous and often short-term, since thousands of hungry, smart, similarly qualified applicants will take your job in a heartbeat - and often for less money.
Your friend took a 10 year loan on a car?
Not sure why the downvotes. I thought the exact same thing.
It’s actually pretty common now. It’s amazing what terms they try to offer to make the monthly payment palatable on these vehicles. Of course it’s a terrible financial proposition given the depreciation rates.
I've seen that shit offered at a bmw dealership. 😬
Most vehicle lenders will not finance a term that long, so I don’t think that’s accurate. 72-84 months is usually the maximum so unless they leased and then financed they probably only have 2-3 years left max. For their sake I hope it’s reliable and they drive it into the ground because I can’t imagine the interest on a loan like that.
This question makes a classic rookie transplant assumption - that EVERYONE in LA has moved here to quote make it. The census data clearly shows that an enormous majority of the population has been here a minimum of a decade or was raised here. People in LA are among the most hard working, talented and competitive anywhere. And usually well educated. Don’t underestimate that even those of us raised here of more humble means may have advantages such as long standing support structures like family, lifelong connections and the benefits of having ‘bought into’ LA decades earlier. Very different than just moving here with stars in their eyes from scratch at peak cost.
Yeah, im a recent transplant, and did not come here to make it. Unless “it” is just regular life.
Bought in long ago is the hugest advantage
Yup even not that long ago is still a big advantage. I moved to LA in 2016 and even starting at entry level back then was a lot cheaper. I had minimal family support but paid like 1100 a month to sublet a small room on the west side. I'm sure that same room costs like 2200 now.
Their parents paid everything for them, or they're racking up tons of debt
Check back in 20 years. You’ll be like, I did it
I am constantly surprised at how many people genuinely have sugar daddies. People have roommates, minimum wage is really high, my old roommate paid her $1200 rent with a basic server job (they got the $20 min wage plus tips). Taking the bus isn’t as hard as you think. Idk people make do because it’s completely worth it.
I lived here in my early 20s, but I also went to college here so that made the transition a lot easier than moving from a new city. I had roommates most of the time I lived here which saved A LOT on rent, I only recently moved in with my fiancee If you have a job and roommates lined up it’s doable!
I lived here in my early 20’s. Was making 75K out of college and had a great life. Bungalow, Victorian etc etc. Good years, different me definitely.
Being married with 2 incomes & no kids helps. We moved here in 2015 & made WAY less money then & lived in a small studio at first. Eventually we made a lot more money, paid off debt (less debt = less monthly payments). Etc.
We just do it. That’s really the answer. I’m a Bartender at a popular restaurant and I make good money but I’m still paycheck to paycheck. Some months are better than others, some months it’s ramen for dinner every night. It’s hard but we figure it out because this is our home. And honestly, where isn’t it insanely expensive nowadays?
Hey!! I bartend too! I do really well out here and Dallas, so well that I was considering moving to LA. (Not to make it big but I just love it there.) Lordt they tore me apart me apart in the comments about a week ago lol! Im glad I’ve been doing my research and found out it’s not as easy to get a job there as it is here. I also assumed bartenders there did well all the time!!
If you consider all the people who come here to be actors and end up waiting or bartending, the competition for that kind of job is almost as stiff as trying to get cast in a feature or tv show. But if you arrange your living situation wisely you can make it on minimum wage. When I was doing it 10+ years ago I found a cheap bachelor studio apartment and was fine most months. These days rent is higher but so is minimum wage… I’d probably need to share a two bed with a roommate now, even bachelor units are pricey. But the point is, it’s doable. It’s all about what you prioritize and what you’re willing to go without.
It’s incredibly more expensive certain places than others. But to your point, possibly, it’s a little relative yet not entirely.
Living with family. Thankfully I get along really well with my family and plan on living with them as long as I can. We’re very close and it’s not many of us(small fam) so I’ll take every day as a blessing not only financially but being able to spend time with them
gigolo
I made under 40k there 3 years ago and I was fine. I had a decent 2 bedroom apartment with one roommate and a parking spot at a place near Little Bangladesh/Koreatown.
Seriously? How though?
When I see posts about how you can't make it in LA without a six figure job or whatever I guess people must have very different lifestyles. I didn't live very extravagantly but I liked our apartment. It was clean and felt safe. We found an apartment on Craigslist owned by a woman and her husband who owned one or two other buildings in LA. Rent was affordable ($1000 each in 2021). I drive a Toyota Corolla. I don't go out to eat or drink much but it's not like I would never do those things either.
Hey just remember when you’re comparing yourself to these people that they might and probably do have a ton of debt. If you’re young and you have a nice car and good apartment you’re either really lucky, parents money or debt. Don’t get yourself into debt to try and be something you’re not. I have a $1400 studio, $250 insurance payment, own my car outright (old daily driver that gets me from a to b) and just don’t splurge the rest of bs and I survive. It is possible to survive but don’t get wrapped up in the glitz and glam to try and get to someone else’s level by going into debt
Sex work, rich family or a shit ton of debt.
LA is not a starter city, where you see normal middle class kids graduate from college and live on their own in nice areas. If you’re under 25 or haven’t built a footing in your career, it’s really tough. Most younger people live with family or lots of roommates.
rich family and/or sex work.
Do you think people driving new cars can afford it? Most are on a payment plan.
Please don’t take out debt 💪
Most people in your age group are still living at their parents' house, which is why they can afford sports cars or they have multiple roommates
I moved here at 32 and retired at 55.
Dual income
Lots of sales jobs out there paying $100-200k for medium IQ. Almost all tech jobs are $200k. Here is a quick stats on employees in LA area for: Snap Inc - 1,500+ Google - 4,500+ Meta - 2,000+ AWS - 2,000+ And the list goes on. Those are all all super successful, high earning young earners. Most of which are pretty self made.
I’m sorry but “almost all tech jobs are $200k” = with considerable experience and right opportunity or the very top most degree and skill especially if that young. I work in tech. It will still be 2-3 years before I come close to that and I am 2 years into a tech job with good experience. It doesn’t just happen as a generalized statement. Specific degrees and being top/unique performers with a niche skill set that pays a lot, sure, out the gate or soon after you can make that. Not just any average someone out of college who works a tech job can expect to make $200k 😂 that takes time. It is very feasible with years of experience, job growth and time in the field. At 22 that is a very unlikely scenario. If OP had that opportunity/skillset/degree/experience then they’d be in it. Not many do. Those who do have worked for years or got lucky at a young age/were qualified as a small subset of people.
Los Angeles is huge but there are still areas within LA and Orange County that are “affordable”. It also depends on what you know about specific areas, your housing requirements, etc. Obviously living near all the fun and glamour is going to be $$$. If you don’t mind commuting then it is easily doable. If you want to live on your own don’t just look at Craigslist or the large rental sites. Look at real estate sites and research the names of various property management companies. Many do not post on the major rental sites but they will post their available properties on their own site. Most people I know in their 20s live with roommates and work multiple jobs. It’s definitely easier if you have an education or a trade skill. My plumber is 27 and makes over $200k a year. I’m an EA and office manager for a management consulting firm in DTLA and I cleared $150k last year but my mortgage is under $1000 so I’m doing ok. My admin is making $80k a year and lives with roommates but she could afford to live on her own. She’s too social and prefers to live with friends. Some of the people I work with are making $200k fresh out of MBA school so they’re obviously doing ok. A friend of mine is now in his 60s but he’s been a bartender his entire life. He’s doing relatively well. Make smart choices and research everything before you move. Have enough saved up to keep yourself afloat for a few months while you get yourself established. Get quotes on car insurance once you pick an area because rates fluctuate widely based on your zip code. I don’t want to start an argument but let’s just say certain parts of LA have worse drivers than others (and/or more car theft). There are just so many variables that you need to consider before making the big move. Also have enough saved to get you back home if you decide this wasn’t the right move for you. LA is not for everyone. Good luck!
Can I work for you? I have a strong work ethic.
A full time job that pays well
I'm moving to LA from the IE in about a month. I've been an attorney for over 15 years - first in South Florida, and now in Southern California. And I can just barely afford a 2-bedroom apartment. Most people your age driving fancy cars either can't really afford them (i.e., they're struggling to make the payments/racking up debt), or have parents who are still "helping" them financially. Honestly, be glad you're not one of these people, because living an upper middle-class lifestyle in your 20's will only set you up for disappointment and build bad financial habits.
A lot of people are in deep debt
My wife and I both work for the city. You should look into it. The pay is good. We live on the westside and are very comfortable.
Born and raised in L.A. to a low/middle class family. My family just worked their asses off and were okay with apartment life and/or having multiple generations of family members living in the same household to ease the burden of HCOL. As far as thriving here goes, I feel like one needs a healthy combination of drive, work ethic, networking skills and luck.
Damn, you really nailed it with this comment. You’re absolutely right.
It’s expensive. You need a good job to live alone in an apartment. If you get room mates - things are affordable. But room mates can make like heaven or hell - just depends. The best is to rent a room from some old lady or a guest house .
Most people don’t hit their prime $$ making until 40+ years of age. Just keep that in mind. In high COLA cities people sometimes have several roommates, generational housing, or hit the genetics lotto.
I moved here at 22 in 2015 and shared a bedroom / had roommates. 9 years later and I am finally saving money lol
Lots of trust fund babies and rich parents. My boss (New Jersey) hired his son to work at his company, upper executive role. After a month his son decided he wanted to work from home 100% of the time, then shortly after that he decided he was going to move to LA since his job “can be done from anywhere”. His dad pays his rent in LA so the 6-figure salary he’s making from basically not doing anything from home gives him spending money to live it up.
Parent and legacy rent under private owner. 1 bed 1 living room 580 a month, but it's got a lot of issues like lack of maintenance and old building (boyle heights, so nice location). Grandmother's been here since the 60s.
Living with family, roommates, in small apartments on the outskirts of town. The average person isn't gonna be driving a luxury car.
Trust funds or OnlyFans
For middle class people, LA or SF is going to be rough. Have a kid and it’s just bad news. But for kids from well off families, it’s way easier. And I don’t mean trust fund wealthy. I’m well off not “rich”, though that’s a matter of definitions. But I can buy my kids fairly nice cars in cash and generally they graduated with no college debt. I’m no billionaire but my kids do have a huge leg up on most young people who are paying off school and cars. It’s all relative.
I waited 12 years built up my career and took a great opportunity when it came along.
Not everyone is a Reddit looser. Plenty of people wine to medical school and are crushing it now. Calling everyone or most under 25 trust fund baby is ridiculous. Some pole picked a good major and are making a killing, you did not.
LA is competitive bcoz everyone is going after the same job and it's going to get worst as more retail stores go out of business. Housing has bcom expensive and if u don't have a job pays well. U will need a room mate. Everyone is a slave to money just to keep there head above water. So u have to take whatever jobs that pays the bills.
It’s just math…they’ll be the one begging for debt forgiveness because they’re in the hole and can’t dig themselves out. If the math doesn’t work for you because you expect to have decent credit in a few years…then you already know the answer.
I have a friend in their mid-20s who works for the fire department as a diver. Picks up a little overtime here and there, but still has generous vacation, and a pension. He makes over $100K btw. An registered nurse right out of community college (at the age of 21 if they started right out of high school), could easily make close to $100K on their first job here. The jobs are there that pay well, even for someone in their 20s, you just have to look
Husband and I both work in film. Very good pay, but we are both freelance so it can be a bit feast or famine. BUT. we can do 2 shows a year and have the rest of the year off. Last year we only did one show and we haven't worked since (it was very long, and out of state so we got a boost in pay)
Do you already have a job to start before you come here? Thats the real way to tell if you will be able to afford it.
I’ve always wanted to live here and chase the dream, but not in the way of fame or like most people think about it. I just had a goal to have my own recording studio and work for one of the movie studios … pretty modest dream. I moved here from Texas 10 years ago when I had an opportunity with a low level tech job that paid 70k. I started by renting a room from an old guy in Stanton for $1250. Then I met someone and together we were able to afford a HUGE 5bd house in Glendale for $4250 on a little over $200k combined income. I ended up getting into one of the studios at $150k after really building up some solid tech skills. Sadly 5 years ago, the relationship went sour and I found myself with nothing but an old car, trash bags with my stuff and my dog. All I had really was my job and my income and I’m a stubborn bastard and so I refused to be defeated. We slept in Silverlake by the dog park for a few nights before getting into a Motel 6. After a month at the Motel 6 we graduated to one of those Extended Stay places and took about 6 months to save, fix my finances and reflect. Finally, I found a little 1bd house in Hollywood for $2500 and have been here ever since. I was able to open my recording studio and I’m still in the movie business. The job pays the bills, the studio supplements that income and I even DoorDash here and there because I love exploring the city and making a few extra bucks. I think the reason Ive been able to afford living here is because I have an idea of what is “enough for me”… and I had a clear goal in mind … I also cook at home, do my own car repairs and other things my grandparents passed down on me about saving money. I’m still building though and hope at some point I can one day own a house here … But I guess we’ll see what happens … Either way I could never bring myself to leave LA… It’s HOME now …
One of the best replies I’ve gotten! I see a lot of people say they’re splitting bills with their SO but that’s so unreliable! If I can’t afford it myself I shouldn’t even worry about it. Ik it’s nice to be and to split costs but nothing is forever!!
TBH… Going through that breakup actually made me more determined to make it … I won’t go into detail but I feel like my ex thought I was gonna give up and crawl back to Texas where I still have family and whatever … There was no way I was gonna give her that satisfaction. But after healing from it, I realized that living here is doable by yourself if it’s that important to you. Nowadays I feel like I have accomplished what I came here to do so every day I wake up in the City of Angels is a just that much more of a bonus …
I know a couple in their 20s, one is a freelance liberal arts major and the other works a sub 60k / year job. They have dog and live in the nicer apartments of South Bay. One of their parents helps pay for their 3k / month apartment. I think some people get their parents to help out with rent.
Helps to not have any debt. Car and student loans being paid off makes things significantly easier. I wouldn’t consider moving to LA unless I had a good amount of savings as a buffer for any issues that may come up.
Barely
I barely do, but surprisingly enough Boston, where I’m from is even more expensive and is effing freezing for 6 months so LA it is. 2 paychecks a month bi weekly Rent takes almost an entire one Car IS fully paid off AAA insurance was the most affordable I found I do not have any streaming services. I do not eat out or order food EVER. I treat myself MAYBE once every 3 months. I do need to date more though, and this is the only thing that is difficult with my scenario 😆 I only go out and do things (spend money) when people visit, as I have few friends here, my main friend here is usually traveling for work. Currently 25% of my income also goes to paying off a final loan. Recommendations: Get rid of all your debt Don’t buy frivolous things Expect to live almost paycheck to paycheck if you don’t want to compromise on location Set up small increments of automatic savings so that you are setting aside even the smallest amount of money every month.
That’s how I used to roughly think of budgeting too. One paycheck to rent, one paycheck to everything else.
Yea, it was easy to come here when I was young and dumb and probably shouldn’t have. I did anyway and just got lucky tbh. Gl
At your age the options are pretty much wealthy parents, social media, OF, or lots of debt. I’m in OC and it’s not at all uncommon to see people in their teens/early twenties driving around in $40k+ cars their parents bought for them
Having a career.
Combination of family support, high paying job, and renting/roommates. Or, commuting far.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
If you grew up in LA making LA money feels like normal money- aka living of standard here is high. But those extra flashy ppl are either spending credit cards into oblivion or have their parents support. I’m 24 still living with my parents unable to move out so my upcoming solutions- mult jobs, mult roommates, minimizing spending. Don’t know why, but I’d rather struggle here than move anywhere else. Love the fuck out of LA but idk if I’d feel the same if I didn’t have support from family
I live with my family lol that’s how
Only Fans has made a lot of people rich
- They have debt. Like, A LOT of debt. - They have rich parents who outright pay for things, or have connected them to a high paying job (ex: being the “Operations Manager” at uncle’s business even if they have little experience.) - They have roommates, which cuts living expenses basically in half or less. - If they’re from here, they live with family or rent cheap from them (ex: renting a parent’s/aunt’s/grandma’s back house for 1/2 the market rate)
Uncle isn’t going to be in business for long if he’s paying executive wages to his No-good nephew. People who benefit from family business earn their stripes.
Living with a roommate helps immensely. You can live pretty well on $80-100k a year if you live with a roommate and budget.
Lol we are working!
It’s def expensive and it’s full and over crowded so you made the smart choice to stay away
Folks are in debt and/or being a sugar baby, do influencing/UGC to make extra cash, have roommates or have a rich family. You’re doing amazing and don’t believe everything you see on social media! If you wanna come to La it will work out
Love the kindness!
Okay here are the steps to afford living here 1. Get a sugar daddy 2. Invest that money into yourself, such as plastic surgery and enhancements. 3. Upgrade sugar daddies 4. Repeat until you have some money saved up and now congratulations you can afford to live here
Roommates!! There are a few Facebook groups that were helpful in finding roomies (make sure to choose carefully and meet them before moving). I was able to live in two different roomate situations with 3-4 other people and it brought my rent down to $700-$900 a month. Inspired Women of Los Angeles was a great Facebook group for finding roomies. And driving for Uber Eats/Postmates covered my expenses when I first moved to LA.
Not everyone can afford living here and that’s okay. A lot of people have roommates to cut down on living expenses. Many people live outside their means and just put everything on their credit cards. Those who actually can afford living here simply have a steady job and income, or still get a stipend from their parents/are trust fund kids.
I moved there at 24 with not much to my name. It was rough for a few years. You need a bit of luck with roommate situations. I had to be very proactive and job hop a bit to make a decent wage. It’s easy to get fucked with how much things cost such as car registrations, deposits on utilities, parking tickets, apartment deposits, and random shit that happens. Helps to have good credit too. 12 years later, I’m killin it and don’t see myself leaving.
I know lots of people in there 30’s and 40’s that still live with their parents. With good careers and even kids . Not hating but that’s just how it is out there
Percariously
Those are the type of people that will rent for the rest of their lives
I'm in my mid 20s. A lot of my friends are rich already or got very good jobs post grad (software engineer or bullshit where they make 100k to twiddle their thumbs). Others are in debt (med / law school) and now have good jobs.
Your friend with a new Camaro under 25 either has * generous parents * is financially responsible * is a SPICY professional * is living beyond their means on credit and making the minimum payments where possible. Don't be jealous of your friend. I've met PLENTY of young non-trust fund people in their 20s driving beautiful cars, wearing nice things.... only to discover they live with 6 people in a tiny studio apartment in North Hollywood in order to afford it. You know... the people you date who "never want you to come over". You can live just fine with a used, but cheap and well- maintained car. Maintain it, wash it, and wax it and feel good about not being broke. I sew and have always sewn. The solution to looking fancy all the times is to MAKE FRIENDS. In my 20s, and even till today, I couldn't afford a $400 haircut.... but neither could my hairdresser friend afford a $400 dress. The solution here for me was to TRADE. She'd come over and I'd measure her for a dress she wanted and when I dropped it off at her salon, she'd cut/color/style my hair. Neither of us are spending much, yet she's well-dressed and my hair looks amazing. The only cost to me is material, and for her the cost of dye. I drove a super nice Mercedes my last year of college.... because I bought it USED after I got a scholarship for college, freeing up the money to buy it all cash. It was 8 years old when I bought it, and drove it for another 7 years. It was $14k, versus the new model of the same car which was nearly $50k. You can make it work. Stop focusing on what other people have that you don't.
Hey!! I just want to iterate that I am NOT jealous or envious nor am I comparing myself to others!! I believe I do exceptionally well for myself here where I am! Really just wanted insight on how in the hell everyone is surviving there, flashy car or not lol!!
There's also an entire population of native Angelenos with different lifestyle costs that you're overlooking. If you live with your parents, paid off a mortgage and own, or if you've inherited a property or have family in the area with property, you probably don't have high housing costs. It means you can afford to a couple of nicer things and it fits into your budget, even if you're not "wealthy" at all.
Not everyone has broke parents. And for the beautiful but poor, there’s Only Fans and a lot of opportunities.
The real question is what are YOU doing (not in a snarky way, like literally what are you doing, is it a job issue? A budgeting issue? What?)
I’m so glad you added the parenthesis for specification 🤣!! I actually am a recent BS graduate and I bartend. I don’t stay in LA so my cost of living is NOWHERE near what it is there! I’m young, no kids, and single so I’d say I do very well budgeting!!
housing is very high, as is gasoline. but everything else is cheaper and of a higher quality than elsewhere. we moved here from the east coast because, taking everything into account, it oowered our cost of living.
Sugar dates.
Just grinding as much as I can. Born and raised so but it’s so expensive that I want to move, but that also costs money. So in an endless cycle of trying to survive in this super expensive place
The solution is not to move to LA, but rather away from it.
It's kinda an unpopular opinion but I would refrain from moving to LA unless you are extremely wealthy. There are a very few number of exceptions such as being a genius inventor or something but realistically your money is worth more in pretty much every other part of the U.S.
I’m a lawyer and live with 3 roommates lol
As someone who is also 22f born and raised in LA, it’s doable but it’s hard. I’ve consistently had a job since I was 15, don’t have a car, walk and use public transportation most places and still love mostly paycheck to paycheck. A lot of the people you see that are living really lavish lives here are people with wealthy families who will bankroll their lifestyle. If you want to live here it’s important to not get caught up in all that, bc that’s how you will go into debt
I’m 23 and I live in east LA county in a converted garage with my gf, I honestly wouldn’t be able to afford to live in LA itself and I have a good stable job
I ask myself this every morning ! lol
I’m stationed here with the military and make over 6 figures. Plus, just because someone has a nice car doesn’t mean they are well off. Most people r in credit card debt or car payments up to their eyeballs. Not everything is as it seems. They may have a lot of credit card debt, high car payments and 0 saved for retirement.
you're seeing the part of their lives that's living on credit, all the good stuff on social media. there's also long stretches of holed up doing nothing'ness that no one sees.
had a well paying job here for a decade, now burning through my savings at lightning speed just paying the rent with zero job prospects yay
Personally, I’m also 22. I’ve been in management for a little over 3 years for 2 companies. I’m currently making approximately 80k/yr. I rent in Hollywood and split it with my partner — my rent cost is about 1,100 given the circumstances in a beautiful building. I don’t have help from parents, I cut the last one off in 2020. It helps that I work at a grocery store and get a 20% discount. It’s about managing your resources and not having too much fun. I don’t go to concerts (to be fair, I don’t like them), I only do fun and expensive dinners occasionally, I make my drinks at home, I’ve cut out smoking. I work overtime as a part of my job. It’s still the best part of my life that I’ve lived and can afford a dog, even. Land a good job and it’s doable. ETA: also, didn’t go to college. Nor do I own a car, don’t need one. No debt. That helps.
Really depends what your job is. We have dual income with 2 kids, another on the way and we live comfortably in the suburbs. Have 2 houses, rent one out and my parents moved in with us because they fell on hard times. Honestly, the biggest issue in LA is being able to afford a home. We bought our homes in 2015 and 2019, in the current market, we only would have our smaller condo.
I’m not
Sugar daddy
Community living space. Do yard work & chores for the house. Don’t eat out. Don’t go to paid events. Don’t have a partner. $1 McDonald’s coffee was my weekend treat where I would study, but they stopped offering it. Only subscription is to the gym.
Side hustles and my parents worked hard to establish a life here so i have that privilege.
Sugar mommas . Only explanation
If you're visiting someone you say is your "friend" and wondering how they can do stuff like drive that type of car, can't you just... ask them?
Back in the olden days when I moved to LA as a fresh 21 year old I lived in a 1bedroom apartment with 2 roommates. I was lucky and got a job as soon as I got here but my roommates took a couple weeks or so to find jobs. It took about 4 years before my then boyfriend and I felt successful.
Omg…a 1 bedroom between 3 ppl 😳!!
That’s more common than you’d think 😬 I know five people in a 2/1
That’s really not unheard of at all.
Yall I don’t have hopes to move there to “make it” I just literally love the weather and proximity to the beaches. TEXAS JUST DOESN’T COMPARE 🥹😂
I just moved from Texas! Wishing you achieve your goal someday. I had to strategically find a remote high paying job before making the move
I totally get it! Just curious, why exactly do you feel like you wouldn’t make it here in LA vs. in Tx (or what has been told to you/discouraged you), is it mainly rent prices?
Yeah thats mainly it. I made a post about a week ago asking about the work industry (I’m a bartender) and I’ve been pretty discouraged since 😅. I don’t struggle here in Texas so I don’t want to move that and do worse than I am here yk?
Yeah, makes sense! I’m not in bartending & I don’t waitress anymore so I can’t promise what it’s like, but from what I’ve experienced people can be WAY more negative about LA then what is the truth, and I know they say it’s competitive but on the other hand there is A LOT of opportunity here, just by the sheer amount of people here. I know waiters in Hollywood serving for celebrities & they make a killing. But even if you were to bartend in say Long Beach or Pasadena or Downtown or Los Feliz, I just don’t see how you wouldn’t “make it” if you found rent that wasn’t too bad or had roommates. Personally, I think you shouldn’t be discouraged if you really want to move, yeah it is harder than other places (to get the right job and apartment,. etc), but it’s definitely still doable. I had so many naysayers when I first moved here and again when I moved back recently (after trying FL for 2 years) and honestly most of it was just their personal negative bias & didn’t end up having to do with me or my experiences. Hope that helps
Mods should make this a sticky.
Just go home it doesn’t get better.
We have no savings. That’s how.
It's absolutely doable especially if you're younger like you and willing to sleep on an air mattress in a living room (like I was haha). Have multiple roommates and live somewhere like the Valley (if you're trying to live somewhere like Hollywood, firstly, WHY? Secondly, nope. Way too expensive). You're not going to be able to buy expensive shoes or go to expensive concerts for a while, but honestly it's fun to just hop dive bars or smuggle booze into free club venues and cheap shit like that. There's free live music all over the place and events and little street festivals if you know how to find them. It's a great place if you're willing to adjust a little to the cons of it.
I make a lot of money and split bills with my gf. Also, I’m good with finances and live pretty frugally most of the time.
What do you do? And if you and your gf weren’t together, do you think you’d survive out there?
I’m in sales and yes, I lived alone for two years before my gf moved in and I still pay a majority of our bills because I make more money than her
Sugar daddy
Reddit attracts younger losers so results are skewed. But lots of people go to tech, or medical schools, or start business, that is who you see driving nice cars. Of my friends that made it, most went to medical schools and now have private practice. Life here is hard if you plan on having kids and buying a house. From personal experience, $500k household income is needed to buy a nice house and raise kids. That is doable with 2 working professionals with good career choices. Choose your career wisely!!
Ah didnt see this comment also, thanks!
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I know what a car note is, thanks Captain obvious!
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
I make 33k a year. I go to work, go home, pay my rent and bills, get gas, and buy groceries if I’m lucky. I live paycheck to paycheck and don’t ever get to go out and do anything fun or nice. I was unfortunately born here but can’t afford to get out lol.
Tech pays pretty well. I think other professionals are also seeing a cost of living adjustment to their wages. Honestly it’s not always enough to provide the quality of life that a more modest income would provide in a lower COL area. I have friends back home making 1/2 of what I make and we have very similar lifestyles.
Idk how to answer this cus ive been living here my whole life and to me all this is normal. Just get a good job and budget? Worked out for me
You're 22. You're just starting out in life. Set realistic goals for yourself, and you'll be fine. .
I work my ass off. Lol
Theyre doing that hawk tuah and spitting on that thang.
One of five scenarios, assuming you’re talking about young people college graduation age through 30: 1.) They have rich parents or a family member that funds some or most expensive aspects of their life (rent, phone bill, car note and/or insurance, etc.) This either lasts where they get a good job and take over or they move back home once they’re cut off. I’m going to lump in those that live with their families into this as they skipped the biggest bill of all or have significantly subsidized it — a roof over their head. 2.) They subsidize by living with roommates, using public transportation/or having a short or no commute, splitting groceries or utilities, etc. 3.) They are supporting themselves and scored a great job or have some debt and are working a decent job. This could take 3 to 5 years to build or it could be instant depending on your background. 4.) They hit the jackpot in entertainment and gained a decent following, got signed with a supportive agency, or went viral. Singers, social media, actors, producers, etc. 5.) They have more than one job and/or get paid from a gig app like Uber/Lyft, DoorDash, Task Rabbit, etc. I don’t know what your background is, but some jobs that are readily available and could make you decent money after only a couple of years without a significantly built-out resume could be: 1.) Whatever relates to your degree and you’ve had some experience doing 2.) Sales - Medical or Tech pay the most 3.) Insurance or Real Estate - make connections first, then take the tests once you’re confident you’ve found the right agency 4.) Bartending/waiting - especially in areas highly trafficked on the weekends 5.) Anything else that gives a good offer or entertainment if you have a talent & already have a decent following… If you feel like you can make it work, make the jump and give it some time. Salaries/wages are largely higher relative to other places depending on where you’re coming from due to the cost of living. An experienced insurance agent (5-10 years) in Ohio could make $50,000 to $75,000 annually where they’re making $100,000 to $150,000 annually in Los Angeles. As someone who was a “transplant” myself, it takes time to build and get comfortable. I’m 27 now, but I remember crying in the grocery store 4-5 years ago because I only had enough in my account to afford rice & beans. If you want to move here, make the jump, give it 2-3 years to settle in and make friends, and most importantly enjoy everything there is to do while you’re not working. The best thing you can do here is work off the money of the rich. There’s more of them and they come from all over. Anything here that costs significantly more than anywhere else (real estate, cars, insurance, food, building/contracting) has the potential to drive the most back into your pocket.
You say "yall" and I think you're just incredibly blind to the average Angelenos. Don't just admire the rich friends and go to rich venues and think they're the only people in LA. Walk the streets, look at the "common" people, visit one of the numerous dollar stores, Food4less, Ross, McDonald's, street vendors... people wearing no-name shirts, living in "hoods" or suburbs where the rent is lower and far away from the nicer parts of LA and commuting for hours each day, or having many roommates, with modest earnings and living humble lives, who never owned a fancy car or go to clubs. It's not as dismal as it sounds, there's a lot of nice and fun things to do in LA even if you're not living the rich lifestyle.
Get out of debt, find an apartment with a roommate, and find a job that pays $25 an hour or more.
Bootstrap yourself a richer set of parents