Moving to Los Angeles: Your Complete Guide

This city needs no introduction, but we’ll give it one anyway! Los Angeles is a city unlike any other, where else can you drive/ride to the beach, mountains, stadiums, parks, and historical landmarks all within an hour? Los Angeles is in a league of its own when it comes to making a name for itself.

Los Angeles is as entertaining as it is polarizing, and if you’re planning on moving to Los Angeles, you need a complete guide giving you all the essential info.

Since the start of 2024, U-Haul has already helped more than 15,000 people move to the ‘City of Angels’. With our expertise in long-distance moving, we know the right moves so you can start living and enjoying Los Angeles the right way.

In this guide, we’ll go over the costs, where to live, what to expect, and how to make the most of your new city!

Cost of Living Overview

Los Angeles has a much higher cost of living than most metros in the country. However, Los Angeles can be affordable without sacrificing safety. When thinking about moving to Los Angeles, outlining a realistic budget and writing down future goals can be a great way to visualize your future in The Big Orange.

Housing Costs: This is far and away the biggest expense when moving to Los Angeles. Housing is on average 130% more expensive than the national average, but areas like the San Fernando Valley, Downey, and Alhambra are all on the lower end of typically high Los Angeles rent. You can expect one-bedroom apartments to go from $1,800-$2,400, and two-bedroom apartments range from $2,300-$2,600.

Utilities: This expense varies depending on where you live in Los Angeles. Due to the sheer size of Los Angeles County and the elevation changes from sea level all the way to around 2,600 feet, weather can get wild. With recent rising temperatures, it’s recommended to get a place with air conditioning.

Heating isn’t something to worry about in near-coastal Los Angeles, but if you're in the inland empire and mountains, expect a few months of cold weather. Expect to pay around $50-$100 in the winter for utilities and $125-$175 in the summer.

Transportation: Los Angeles has one of the best public transportation systems in the country. Only around 8.5% of the city’s total population uses METRO, and the ones who ride talk about it like a hidden gem. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics just a few years away, METRO has been expanding like crazy! Their goal is to have 28 projects completed by 2028, and eight are already completed. For the odd trip, a car is recommended, but rideshare services are extremely prominent in Los Angeles. METRO also offers local deals that discount fares and reduce rates for METRO bikes.

Where to Live in L.A.

With a county population of almost 10 million people and a land area of 4,084 square miles, there are plenty of places to live! However, it is recommended to live near where you work if you plan on being car-dependent. Los Angeles traffic is nationally known for being a headache, so alleviating it in any way is a win.

Young Professionals: If your new job is in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), then Palms and Culver City are great locations for you to live. METRO’s E Line light rail runs right through Culver City and straight to DTLA. South Park Downtown is also an up-and-coming spot with more nightlife than other parts of DTLA. Plus, you're only a 25 minute drive to Venice Beach!

Families/Long-term Residents: Any family looking to have fun outdoors should consider Los Feliz. This neighborhood is right next door to Griffith Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country. Pasadena is also a fantastic option on the east side of Los Angeles, around the Rose Bowl and Foothill area.

The Los Angeles Housing Market

This is one of the few metros in the United States where renting long-term will most likely be cheaper than purchasing a home. Unlike Dallas, Austin, Charlotte, and Raleigh, the Los Angeles metro area neighborhoods have already been constructed for a long time, and most of what is being built now is multifamily housing units.

Los Angeles Housing Department: There is a lack of new homes being built in Los Angeles, and taxes in California and Los Angeles are higher. However, this allows for more flexibility when it comes to programs aiding those needing affordable rent options. The Los Angeles Housing Department has resources to assist in renting and first-time home buying.

The Reality: Most homes in Los Angeles that aren’t condos are going to start at a base of at least $600,000; this is just the reality of buying a home in Los Angeles. On average, rentals are around $1,800 to $3,000, while a mortgage on a home starts at a minimum of $6,000. This does not even count all the potential maintenance and home insurance costs when owning a home.

Planning the Move to Los Angeles

If you’re moving to Los Angeles for the first time, there are a lot of logistics that need to be taken care of. Some of the many costs that you will most likely encounter when moving are moving supplies (boxes, paper tape, dollies), moving vehicle equipment (trucks, trailers), fuel, and food and hotel costs. Make sure that you also prepare for an unexpected moving surprise. This situation would most likely be an extra night's hotel stay or unexpected fuel costs.

Outline a Budget: Your budget will be most dependent on how far you are currently living from your new home in Los Angeles. Moving more than 500 miles away, it may be more cost-effective to go with a portable moving container. Make a list and outline every estimated cost by category, including the ones listed above. A great way to estimate how much moving supplies will cost is with a moving supplies calculator.

Plan for Extra Time: Planning to move all of your belongings in one day is possible; however, it can be a nightmare when the day comes. If you’re planning on moving everything yourself, space out the day so that when it comes time to drive a moving truck, you have enough energy to make the drive safely. It is best to give yourself an extra total day when planning a move, which includes truck and trailer reservations. If you want a more relaxed moving experience, Moving Help is a fantastic, affordable option to reduce stress and body aches.

Unpack Quickly: Upon arrival at your new destination, take the rest of the day to relax and discover a great local restaurant. Los Angeles has plenty. Online forums are full of restaurant reviews and Los Angeles foodies. The next day? If possible, spend all of it unpacking, starting with the kitchen and bathroom. Once those are done, proceed with everything else. Setting up your kitchen utensils, fridge, and pantry first will save you money on groceries rather than eating out.

Los Angeles Life After the Move

There is always something to do in Los Angeles. It’s just the truth. This city is home to so many cultural neighborhoods and districts, parks and gardens, beaches and marinas, stadiums and arenas, you’re likely to never run out of things to do.

Experience the Beaches: Santa Monica, Redondo, Manhattan, Venice, Playa Del Rey, Hermosa, and Torrance Beach are all on one (nearly solid) coastline that spans more than 22 miles. These beaches have tons of activities, bike paths, and local restaurants that you’ll come to enjoy. You’ll want to take the 30-minute drive every time you get off work so you can go take the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail.

Become a METRO Master: METRO Bus covers more than 1,400 square miles, and METRO Rail has more than 100 stations. If you can, ride public transportation to and from work. A car will most likely cost you 4-5 times as much as public transportation. There are six METRO Rail lines, and every single one of them converges in DTLA.

Griffith Park: This park deserves its section, seriously. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood, and two memorial parks are all inside Griffith Park. This more than 4,000-acre park includes activities like horseback riding, camping, picnics, hiking, and so much more! Please make this one of the first landmarks you plan to visit in Los Angeles; it’s amazing.

Get to Know the Highways: Usually, going across Los Angeles will have you switching onto three or four different interstate highways. Master your regular routes because Los Angeles highways (California in general) can sometimes feel like a maze. When planning out your route, try to memorize street names and exits.

SPORTS GALORE: Los Angeles and New York are the only cities with two or more sports teams in the five major U.S. sports. Stadiums are in either DTLA or a quick 30-minute drive away. Taking the family to a Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, Kings, Galaxy, or Sparks game can make for an unforgettable experience!

Make Moving to Los Angeles Easier with U-Haul

A Solution for More Space: With more than 15 storage locations in the greater Los Angeles area, if you need a storage solution, U-Haul has you covered. To combat the inland-empire heat, our numerous climate-controlled storage locations are here to help you. Plus, with any one-way truck rental, you get a free month of storage!

Most Affordable Trucks: If you’re getting behind the wheel for your move, look no further than the reliable lineup of U-Haul trucks to get you to your new home. Transporting your car to Los Angeles? U-Haul vehicle towing equipment can be towed with U-Haul trucks! Making it more convenient for you to affordably bring your ride.

Moving and Storage: One of the best combinations for both moving and storage is with a portable moving container. Good thing there is U-Box by U-Haul! U-Box containers are the most affordable portable moving and storage containers. U-Box containers have been ranked by both Forbes and Bob Vila as the best moving containers for the past four years!

Packing Your Belongings: You love your belongings and are putting so much effort into bringing them to Los Angeles. Packing your items the right way ensures their safe arrival. U-Haul boxes are industry-leading in quality, and our specific packing supplies mean your 80-inch TV arrives without a scratch.

Enjoy Los Angeles: Take advantage of Moving Help and get a near full-service move at a much more affordable price! The great part about Moving Help? You can book the exact kind of service you need. Go enjoy the beach and get Moving Help!