This is my long term plan. My lease is not up until next halloween so I have plenty of time to prepare. If I can find someone to take over my lease I might move sooner but I won't rush things. St. Louis has been great to me and I love the friendliness of people but it is time for me to move to a more liberal atmosphere.i was thinking about moving back to Chicago but it has always been a dream of mine to live in LA. I just wanted to ask you guys for recommendation on apartments, life in the west coast, etc.

My ideal location to live would be Santa Monica but I don't know if I can afford it. I'm currently paying $5xx for my rent here in a nice suburban area of St louis. What other part of LA would you recommend that is safe and affordable? Part of my income is from online handmade business and I'm quite confident I'll be able to find part time jobs there in restaurant business where I have years of experience.

A little about me, I'm a single post op in my late 30's. I don't have problem passing in day to day life although most people will find out eventually about my trans-self since I'm not very good at keeping secret. Thank you everyone in advanced for your input.

Santa monica, Venice, and Marina del Rey are going to be really really pricey because they are on the beach (Venice being the cheapest out of those). I lived in Marina del Rey when I moved out here, but the longer I live here the farther away from the beach I move- and consequently my rent keeps going down

I would recommend looking into Mar Vista and Culver City. They are both still close to the beach but the rent is much cheaper, and they still have that laid back west side vibe!

Thank you Jennygirl. I don't need to stay by the beach or near swanky neighborhood. Just a quiet safe area not too far from city center that has 1 bedroom apt available for around $500. I'll check Mar Vista and Culver City as you suggested. Compare to St Louis, Los Angeles is such a vast expanded area of neighborhoods that overwhelms me a little bit when I do my research. Any other suggestion still welcomes here. Thank you so much.

Rent in the greater LA area is outrageous. Think of paying double of that for a bedroom. Yes, a bedroom. If you're lucky a bachelor, or small 1br.

Thx Monica. Wow, that's steep. I am still able to find $500-600 apt in Chicago that's not in the ghetto (very rare), I thought LA would be the same. Maybe I'll look in the areas farther away. I really wanna move to California so I'll do further research.

Quote from: mintra on December 18, 2012, 02:26:43 PM
Thx Monica. Wow, that's steep. I am still able to find $500-600 apt in Chicago that's not in the ghetto (very rare), I thought LA would be the same. Maybe I'll look in the areas farther away. I really wanna move to California so I'll do further research.

Even in New Orleans, where cost of living is pretty cheap... 500-600 = ghetto. I pay 900ish and I live in the 9th ward...

Cheep and California don't go together - perhaps in Fresno or Bakersfield (and even then I doubt it), but in SF/SD/LA if you want to live in a good area you're going to pay for it.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on December 18, 2012, 02:53:53 PM
Even in New Orleans, where cost of living is pretty cheap... 500-600 = ghetto. I pay 900ish and I live in the 9th ward...

Oh lord! But New Orleans is an amazing city. My t-friend fell head over heel in love with the city when she visited there years ago. I can see why it can be expensive.

Quote from: tekla on December 18, 2012, 03:01:29 PM
Cheep and California don't go together - perhaps in Fresno or Bakersfield (and even then I doubt it), but in SF/SD/LA if you want to live in a good area you're going to pay for it.

Shoot! That's disappointing. I won't give up though. I'm a bargain hunter and always found best deal in everything I shop. I found my current apartment at below median rent in this affluent area of St. Louis. Usually a studio starts at $600 and up. I got a 1 bedroom for $510. Hopefully I'll be able to find one in South CA!

Or maybe better yet I should find a sugar daddy lol. Thank you so much girls. You guys are awesome.

well ive been considering moving to los angeles soon. I live in texas and my neighvors ae driving me nuts. I was planning on moving later but I'm kinda really desperate to move now. if you are open to havong a roomate pherhaps we could find a 2 bedroom in the 1000-1500 as long you aren't allergic to cats and are ok with a roomate who is in the adult industry.

Rent here is not that cheap. $600 and up for an apt. A condo considerably more. 

Search craigslist LA for an idea of rent and areas.  Try to find TG friendly cities like in the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Hollywood, West Hollywood.  South Bay.

I'm from LA but have lived in Bakersfield since 96.   I still miss it, but relocating, finding work, and transitioning all at the same time would be extremely difficult for me.

Quote from: angelfaced on December 18, 2012, 06:05:35 PM
well ive been considering moving to los angeles soon. I live in texas and my neighvors ae driving me nuts. I was planning on moving later but I'm kinda really desperate to move now. if you are open to havong a roomate pherhaps we could find a 2 bedroom in the 1000-1500 as long you aren't allergic to cats and are ok with a roomate who is in the adult industry.

I will seriously think about that. I don't mind what you do and I love pets. However, I prefer to live alone because I like the freedom of using my sewing machine anytime I want without disturbing neighbors but if I have to I'll do it in the beginning. Thank you for the offer darling. I'll bookmark this post.

Quote from: monica93304 on December 18, 2012, 08:37:42 PM
Rent here is not that cheap. $600 and up for an apt. A condo considerably more. 

Search craigslist LA for an idea of rent and areas.  Try to find TG friendly cities like in the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Hollywood, West Hollywood.  South Bay.

I'm from LA but have lived in Bakersfield since 96.   I still miss it, but relocating, finding work, and transitioning all at the same time would be extremely difficult for me.

I know hon, it's not easy. That's why I plan ahead of time. There are so many stuff right now in my Apt that I have to get rid of in order to have the least amount of stuff when I move. It'll be quite a ride from midwest to west coast!!

$600 is not bad. I did find some cheap apt on craigslists but I'm not from the area so it's hard for me to tell if it is safe. I love west hollywood though, it's like Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago only it's more exciting!

Thnks Monica.

There are crime maps,  I will try to find them.

If you want to get information on particular neighborhoods, go to www.neighborhoodscout.com

I live in Pasadena which is just 20 minutes north east of LA.  I think the LA area is an awesome place to live and a great place to be trans.  Venus and Santa Monica are great areas (though very different from each other).  I have less experience of the Western-Valley area, but Pasadena is to me the perfect small city (the opposite of the LA sprawl) with lots of day life and night life.

I visually pass without problem, but I haven't quite mastered the voice yet, but I have encountered no issues at all when people do realize that I'm trans.  I spend a lot of time in coffee shops, clothes shops and even occasionally even at bars (most of the time I'm mainly subject to the whims of my 2-year old  ).

Quote from: KateConnors on December 20, 2012, 01:00:46 AM
I live in Pasadena which is just 20 minutes north east of LA.  I think the LA area is an awesome place to live and a great place to be trans.  Venus and Santa Monica are great areas (though very different from each other).  I have less experience of the Western-Valley area, but Pasadena is to me the perfect small city (the opposite of the LA sprawl) with lots of day life and night life.

I visually pass without problem, but I haven't quite mastered the voice yet, but I have encountered no issues at all when people do realize that I'm trans.  I spend a lot of time in coffee shops, clothes shops and even occasionally even at bars (most of the time I'm mainly subject to the whims of my 2-year old  ).

While either Venus or Mars would be interesting places to live, I think you mean Venice Beach, Kate.

I lived in the Pasadena area for many years (1973 to 1993).  One of my favorite spots was Barney's LTD at 93 West Colorado Blvd (not to be confused with Barney's Beanery at 99 W Colorado!)

@Mintra - you'll need a car too

Yeah the entire lack of transportation other than a personal car is a problem.  LA is HUGE, and totally not centralized so driving is the only way to really get around.  (There is not a 'city center' - well, OK there is, but there are about 3/4 others like Century City and Irvine too, very confusing) The hugeness does offer a lot of different choices though.  I always thought just about everyone could find an LA they liked (and several they hated).

Quote from: Jamie D on December 20, 2012, 01:13:11 AM
While either Venus or Mars would be interesting places to live, I think you mean Venice Beach, Kate.

Ooops, I'm typing too late at night.  Need to go to bed.

Quote from: angelfaced on December 18, 2012, 06:05:35 PM
well ive been considering moving to los angeles soon. I live in texas and my neighvors ae driving me nuts. I was planning on moving later but I'm kinda really desperate to move now. if you are open to havong a roomate pherhaps we could find a 2 bedroom in the 1000-1500 as long you aren't allergic to cats and are ok with a roomate who is in the adult industry.

I'm thinking about moving to LA too and would luv a roomate! I can't send messages on here for some reason but you can email me if your interested. 

I will say that outside of New York City I know more adults in California who have roommates than anywhere else.

Lol...

11 roommates here