<p>Hi. To those who transferred to LA (or in the process of), could you give me a rough estimate of how much your rent is and your cost of living?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>it’s gonna be expensive comparing with most of other UCs, cuz it’s near downtown n beach</p>
<p>Apartment renting cost (if you want to live within 3 miles from the campus) starts from $1,400 for one bedroom. Of course, you won’t be paying for everything since you’ll be sharing a room with a roommate or two.</p>
<p>Assuming you share cost with one roommate in a $1,600 one bedroom apartment:</p>
<p>With food and utility, you may need between $900-$1,000/month (really depends on how much you eat out and stuff).</p>
<p>If you drive, the gas is around $2.75/gal here right now. Fluctuates quite frequently, so beware.</p>
<p>Parking in Los Angeles can be ridiculous. If you enjoy clubbing & bars in Hollywood and Downtown area, you will most likely have to pay in paid parking lots, which can cost you around $10 a night. Cover Charge for a typical club is $15/person. Drink is also around $15. So Nightlife can be quite costly.</p>
<p>Just get like three or four roommate, and your cost will easily be cut by half.</p>
<p>^^I go out at least 3 times a week if not more, and I bar hop/club hop every single time. Hollywood does suck with parking, but usually if you’re clever enough to plan ahead and don’t mind walking a block or 4, you can save money with the parking lots. Downtown LA is simply a mess, you’re not any more safe parking in a lot then you are on the streets. The only times I’ve ever seen lots open in Downtown LA at night is during art walk once a month and even then if you drive around you might find something for free. </p>
<p>And depending if you’re a male or a female, generally speaking females don’t have to pay a cover if you’re good looking enough and show up with a bigger girl to guy ratio. but if you’re a male and are going out with your bros be ready to cough up for that cover. and even then most of the places that charge cover I find not worth even partying it at. THERE ARE SOOOOOOOO MANY places to go in LA by the night, even on a tuesday or wednesdays or sundays which i find to be the weirdest nights to find good spots. just be clever. most “cover” places also have guestlists and rsvp, which if you do you get in for free, and these tend to be the hollywood ones. i personally love partying in the westside in general which seems to be a lot much more melow than the la drama. santa monica and venice are my loves.</p>
<p>Lastly if you’re on a budget, you should know better than to spend 15 per drink. the most i’ve ever had to pay for a cocktail in la is 12 and that was for a long island iced tea. you should “pre-it” before going out in la, which means(if you don’t know) drink shots at home or in the car or whatever before going in to any place, that way you don’t have to keep buying more and more drinks just to get a buzz going.</p>
<p>and in regards to personal expenses and stuff, it really just depends on your habits. i personally eat out more than i need to or can afford to, and eating out can usually mean 10-20 dollars a meal assuming you’re not eating at a fast food restaurant. so budget your own habits. if you’re a healthier eater or cook for yourself, props for you. And if you’re going to commute to ucla even if commuting means 2 miles, be sure to reconsider the 2 miles, and extend it possibly to 5 or 6 where rents might be cheaper, but where commute time might increased.</p>