I'm interviewing for a job that would require relocation to the Los Angeles area. I'm a little weary, just based on my perception of the cost of living. I'm in Chicago now, which isn't cheap, but before I move further with this job, I'd like to get some idea on how L.A. compares.

I've visited the L.A. area a few times and I'm sure the areas that I like the best are probably the most expensive such as Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Venice, Malibu. This job would be home office based, so I could pretty much live anywhere. However, I'd be traveling a lot, so proximity to an airport is required. I really prefer John Wayne to LAX, so I'm probably leaning towards Orange County.

I'm not sure if I'd buy or rent when I first get out there. I would probably be looking for a 2-3 BR townhouse with a 2 car garage. If I was going to rent, I'd be looking to spend about $1500-1600 a month in rent and if I was going to buy, I'd be looking to spend around $400,000.

So, are there any areas I should be looking? Are my ideas of cost and areas reasonable? Anyone here move from Chicago to L.A.?

Any input would be helpful.

It would be nice to never have to shovel snow again.

There really isn't a whole lot available in the OC area for the pricing you're looking at these days. Expect something small, and way overpriced. A friend just bought a 1000sqft townhome for just over $300k.
Rental units are similarly overpriced $1400 might get you into a relatively old 2bdrm apt.
Expect something closer to the $2k mark for a 3bdrm.

You might consider areas like Garden Grove, Westminster, Costa Mesa, or even Santa ana if you're looking for a little bargain. Those area are slightly inland, and a little less expensive.

Irvine, Tustin, Newport, Huntington Beach, are generally quite expensive, due in part to the new developments that are popping up.

Good luck

...for about 1500. My one friend rents a duplex (top/bottom) 3 bedrooms for about $2500 but that overlooks the beach too. I am not sure if you will be able to find a townhouse for that little but if you keep looking I am sure you can. If you move a little inland the prices go down dramatically. But if you wanna live near the beach you have to pay a premium.

I did a quick search on realtor.com and came up with these:

Huntington Beach
http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1029985746
http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1030434181

Rancho Santa Margarita
http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1030587792

Newport Beach
http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1030116670

There were a bunch more listings in HB and RSM, but this was the only listing in NB for under $425k.

and it seemed like a nice place to me. I don't know about Rancho Santa Margarita though

It's just a little off the beaten path. Not an ocean community, more of a new development, tract homes and such. Very nice.

nothing beats santa monica

$1500.00 jajaja


good luck and welcome to la

You might want to stay in Chicago, LA is already crowded. I'm a native and we don't really need any more traffic here. Thanks man.

Maybe I'll be your neighbor. I'll park the A4 on my lawn...up on blocks, drag an old couch outside and sit there all day drinking cases of Old Milwaukee. A washing machine on the porch does wonders for the neighborhood too. :-)

I pay $78 per car a year in Illinois. I've heard that is could be hundreds of dollars more in CA.

The farther you are from the metro area (like the major airports), the cheaper it'll be. Like Rancho Santa Margarita is going to feel like the middle of nowhere. But a very nice, clean planned community. I think coming from the Chicago area, So Orange County is gonna be culture shock. Everything will feel pre-fabricated, orderly, clean, pretty people & nice cars too. No old homes, w/ character, etc. The closer to the ocean though, the better. Makes it all worth while, living in this over populated state. By the way, if you are able to work from home, why are you considering moving to one of the most expensive places to live in the US? Suggest getting cheap plane tickets and hanging out here for a few days.

Thanks for the info. The position does require that I live in LA. I'd be working for an OEM partner to a major corp and will be spending most of my time working with people at their offices in Irvine, Pasadena and LA. I'll also be covering San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, etc. so the proximity to an airport as also a requirement.

The more I look into areas around LA, Huntington Beach keeps coming up as the best choice. It looks like I can buy a decent townhouse for around $400-450k, it's close to John Wayne airpot, reasonably easy access to most parts of LA and Orange County, close to the beach, lots of nightlife, etc.

Chicago is now loaded with trendy bars/club full of these actress/model wannabes who think they are in LA anyway, so I might as well come see the real thing.

The costs are not that far off from what they are in Chicago and it is easy to relate between the 2 places. In Chicago being downtown is like being near the ocean in LA. The farther you move away from downtown/the ocean, the cheaper it gets. Rancho Santa Margarita sounds like the suburbs here that were cornfields 10 years ago. They are nice and inexpensive, but boring as hell.

you got it brada. HB is good choice. Seal Beach or even parts of Long Beach. All good affordable coastal communities. See you in the south land. Good luck.