Let’s say you just finished college and have decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Where should you live and how much will it cost?
Temporary Digs
Let’s start with when you first arrive in LA. The ideal situation would be that you have a relative or close friend that can put you up for free while you find a place. If you don’t already know anyone that lives in LA, try couchsurfing.
If you can’t find a bed for free you will have to stay in a hotel or motel. A very popular option for temporary living is Oakwood Apartments in Burbank. They are right down the street from Warner Bros. Studios. There is also a location in Woodland Hills which is convenient to Larry Flynt Publications studio for those in the “other” Hollywood. Oakwood Burbank has temporary furnished apartments with lots of child actors from Peoria living their with their moms. Unfortunately they are pricey. Maybe starting at $70 or $80 per night. Ouch!
Extended Stay America (XSA) is a better option because they have many locations in California and their rooms all include a small kitchen, stove, refrigerator, microwave, etc. Plus free wireless internet. Don’t live anywhere without free high-speed internet. You need an internet connection to find auditions and work.
Here is a tip: don’t pay the asking price at hotels like XSA. They may advertise $50 or $75 per night but don’t believe them. Instead go to priceline.com and put in a bid for $35 for the area you wish be near. If they have vacancies they will fill them at the lower price. If you had to live at XSA for one month the cost would be 30 x $35 = $1050 per month.
Permament Digs
Once you have temporary digs in LA with internet, you need to find something more permanent. As an actor, you want to be someplace convenient for auditions and to talent agencies. Auditions are often in Hollywood or in Burbank, although they can be held just about anywhere around LA County, even Pasadena. If you are seeking work as a model, jobs can be anywhere including Orange County which is 50 miles south. So you definitely need a set of wheels to get around southern California. Public transportation in LA and Orange County exists but it takes 2 hours to get anywhere.
Housing costs are high in LA. The cost depends on where you live and how big place you need. The best place to look is craigslist. Do this research before you ever leave your hometown. You don’t want to sign a long-term lease or have to buy furniture, so the best choice would look for a temporary sublet or for someone looking for a roommate.
Look at the Google map above. The areas to look at are near Hollywood or in the valley near Burbank. On the map that would be along the line from Santa Monica, Westwood, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and Los Feliz. In the Valley you should look in Van Nuys, Studio City, North Hollywood and Burbank.
Santa Monica or Hollywood?
One popular area is Santa Monica and Venice Beach. This area is expensive because everyone in the world has heard of Santa Monica and because it is a beach city. But the weather is nice because it is near the ocean. You won’t need A/C in the summer. Looking at craigslist I see that you can get a room in someone’s house or share a two bedroom not far from the beach for $1100 to $1300 per month. Utilities might be extra, anywhere from $50 to $200. Sometimes they want first and last months rent.
Back in 2006 I lived in a tiny studio two blocks from the beach for one year that cost $1300 including utilities. It was really just the basement of someone’s house that they turned into a studio apartment to help them pay their huge mortgage. In 2007 I lived in a larger 2BR apartment a few blocks from the beach that I shared with one roommate that was $1200 plus utilities which were about $100 each month. So again about $1300, more space, a deck with an ocean view but a roommate. This was also just bottom level of a hillside home that was turned into a separate 2BR apartment. The owner’s total monthly payment on the house was over 10,000 dollars! Renting out part of your house or taking in boarders is very common in Southern California.
Rent is Cheaper in the Valley
A less expensive choice is the San Fernando Valley. Most of the big movie studios like Disney and Warner Brothers are in Burbank along with NBC and Central Casting so this might be a wiser choice than way out the I-10 at the beach. North Hollywood (NoHo) is popular along with neighboring Studio City and Van Nuys. Studio City is home to Universal Studios. In craigslist, I see roommate shares for $600 to $800 per month plus utilities. Be aware that the temperature in the valley is a dry and sunny 100 degrees F during the summer months.
There are cheaper areas to live in around LA like Sun Valley, Torrance, or (gasp) the Inland Empire but they either have gang problems or are too far away. Avoid dangerous areas unless you like having you car vandalized or carjacked. Stick to places convenient to Hollywood and Burbank. I had a place in Sun Valley from 2001 to 2004. It was cheaper than the beach cities but too dangerous so I was glad when I left.
How About Orange County, Simi Valley or Long Beach?
Orange County is about 50 miles south of LA. In general, it is much cleaner, nicer and safer than Los Angeles, especially south OC and near the coast. I lived in OC for a few years and commuted to work everyday in LA. During rush hour the commute would take two hours. One hundred miles round trip. With high gas prices you will go broke, plus you put about 20K miles per year on your car. Eventually I had to move to LA.
The same can be said for Simi Valley as for OC. Nicer area, but too far away. How about Long Beach? It’s halfway between LA and OC. Still too far away to live if your are pursuing an acting career.
The bottom line is plan to spend $750 to $1500 per month for a roof over your head in LA. I’ll write more about living expenses LA in future articles.
