If you are moving to Los Angeles alone in your 20s, choose where to live based on your commute, budget for rent and move-in costs before you arrive, and plan to make friends close to home because the city is so spread out. Expect the first three months to feel scattered; a simple routine and one or two recurring activities make LA feel smaller fast.
Choose a neighborhood around your commute
Los Angeles is not one city so much as dozens of neighborhoods connected by freeways, and traffic shapes daily life more than almost anything else. The best neighborhood for you is usually the one closest to where you will spend most weekdays. A rough map of the main areas:
- The Westside: near the beach, including Santa Monica and Venice and Mar Vista. Popular and often among the pricier areas.
- Central LA: Koreatown and Mid-Wilshire and Hollywood, dense and central, with more transit options.
- The Eastside: Silver Lake and Los Feliz, known for walkable pockets and a creative feel.
- The Valley and nearby cities: Glendale and Burbank and Studio City, often more space for the money.
- Downtown: Downtown LA, with apartment buildings close to rail lines.
Before you sign anything, do the commute at rush hour. A route that takes twenty minutes on a Sunday can take an hour on a weekday. If you will rely on Metro rail or buses, check that your home and work are both near a line.
Budget for LA rent and the costs around it
Rent is likely to be your largest expense, and many people in their 20s share an apartment, at least at first. Prices change often, so look at current listings in two or three neighborhoods before you set a budget. Plan for the costs around rent too:
- A security deposit and first month’s rent, plus application fees.
- Furniture and basics, since many LA apartments come unfurnished and some come without a refrigerator, so ask.
- Parking, which may cost extra or be limited; check before you sign.
- Car costs if you drive: insurance, gas, maintenance and parking tickets add up.
- A cushion for the weeks before your first paycheck.
Our young adult budget calculator and guide to your first lease help you check the numbers. Some cities in Los Angeles County have local rent rules, so read your lease carefully and ask questions.
Meet people in a spread-out city
In LA, a friend who lives forty minutes away is a friend you see once a month. Build your social life close to home:
- Find one recurring activity in or near your neighborhood: a run club, climbing gym, yoga studio, pickup league, class or volunteer shift.
- Use the outdoors. Hiking, beach volleyball and group bike rides are easy ways to meet people regularly.
- Cluster your plans. Pick a couple of nearby spots and become a regular.
- Say yes to plans with coworkers, then branch out to their friends.
- Be patient. Most people find their LA circle takes several months to build.
For more, see making friends after college and dealing with loneliness.
What helps in the first three months
- Month one: set up the basics (bank, phone, doctor, grocery store, gym), do your commute daily and keep weekends simple. Explore one new neighborhood each weekend.
- Month two: commit to one recurring activity and one standing plan with someone. Check your spending against your budget.
- Month three: review what is working. Is the commute sustainable? Do you have people to call? Are you sleeping well? Adjust one thing.
If you moved for a job in another field, our guide on moving to a new city for work covers the work side. If you came to act, see moving to LA to act.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps you turn a big move into a weekly plan: budget, routine, social goals and work, with check-ins between sessions. Blackburn was founded in Los Angeles, and mentoring is available in person across the city or by video. See mentoring in Los Angeles and young adult mentoring.
Related
- Mentoring in Los Angeles
- Moving to a new city for work
- Living alone for the first time
- First apartment checklist
- Your Child Wants a Creative Career: How to Support It
- Actors and Survival Jobs: A Weekly Routine That Works
Common questions
What is the best neighborhood in LA for someone in their 20s?
It depends mostly on where you work. Living close to your weekday commute usually matters more than any neighborhood’s reputation, so test the drive or transit route at rush hour first.
Do I need a car in Los Angeles?
Many people do, but it depends on where you live and work. Some central neighborhoods and Downtown are near rail lines, which makes living without a car more workable.
How do I make friends after moving to LA alone?
Join a recurring activity near your home, become a regular at a few nearby spots and say yes to early invitations. Building a circle takes a few months.
Can I meet a mentor in person in Los Angeles?
Yes. Blackburn offers in-person mentoring in Los Angeles as well as video sessions anywhere in the United States.
Get started
New to Los Angeles and want help building a routine that fits the city? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.