8 Pros and Cons You Need to Know About Life in LA
If you’re reading this I’ve left LA! I moved to Los Angeles from New York a few years ago and it was just incredible. But my husband and I are off to our next adventure.
There has been a lot of buzz and negativity about life in LA, but honestly I loved it! I wanted to take some time to share my thoughts on the pros and cons of living in Los Angeles and what you can expect from life in the city.
4 Pros & 4 Cons of Living in LA
Pro Number 1 - LA Has Incredible Weather
LA has amazing weather, pretty much year round. You will probably hear everyone raving about how great the weather in LA is, and that’s because it seriously is that damn good! It’s almost always sunny, rarely rains, and is a drier heat, which I find much more comfortable than humid weather.
Pro Number 2 -LA Has Gorgeous Scenery All Year Round
LA is downright gorgeous! There are palm trees everywhere, epic sunsets, and hills and mountains rising off in the distance. Even if you just drive around randomly it’s super pretty, not like other cities where everything is just flat and ugly. If you live in LA, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible outdoors, soaking up the gorgeous sun and views!
Con Number 1 - The Traffic in LA is Terrible
Speaking of driving around - the traffic in Los Angeles is THE WORST. A drive that is only a few miles away can easily take close to an hour because of how bad traffic gets on the freeways. And unlike NY or other cities that have rush hours or times you know the traffic will be bad - LA traffic is pretty much trash any time of day.
Con Number 2 - Cost of Living in LA is High
As much as I love LA, it’s definitely not as affordable as other parts of the country! Depending on where you are coming from, you definitely will experience some sticker shock! I moved to LA from NY, so I actually had the unusual perspective of finding LA cheaper than NY. But that was moving from one of the most expensive cities in the country! If you are moving to LA from probably almost anywhere else, you will have to keep the cost of living in mind. Everything - from rent to gas, to going out and socializing is pricey. And I’m not even going to get into the California state taxes!
Pro Number 3 - LA Is Amazing for Travel
I’m from the East Coast, but I had so much fun traveling around the West Coast when I lived in LA. You can do everything from road tripping up and down the Pacific Coast Highway to catching a quick flight to Hawaii. LA is a stone’s throw from some insane travel hubs, whether you want to fly, drive or catch a train.
Con Number 3 - LA Has a Lot of Environmental & Social Issues
Not gonna lie, LA has it’s fair share of environmental and social issues you’ll have to deal with if you live here. If you’ve never experienced an earthquake, you definitely will if you move to LA. The forest fires can shut down the city, and even if you don’t live in a part of town where you’ll be impacted by brush fires, the smoke spreads far enough to be hazardous. I lived in DTLA which never had fire exposure, but outdoor restaurants, venues and activities always shut down when there was a big brush fire because of the air quality and smoke related issues.
LA also has a major homeless problem that only seems to be getting worse. The biggest concentrations are near downtown in Skid Row and in Venice, but you’ll see smaller homeless encampments in almost every park and under every overpass. Hopefully one day the city will find a humanitarian solution to the homelessness crisis, but for now if you are thinking about a move to LA, you need to be aware of it and how it may impact you and which part of town you plan to live in.
Pro Number 4 - LA is Great for Healthy Living
I definitely got in great shape living in LA, just by nature of the lifestyle. There are great fitness studios with all kinds of dynamic, niche workouts, and plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities that will help keep you in shape. Not to mention the wellness centers, juice bars and healthy restaurants that just make it easier to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Con Number 4 - LA is a City with Lots of Competition
LA is a great city, but it’s definitely a competitive one! It was incredibly hard to find a job, and even harder to make new friends. I’m a pretty outgoing personality and before covid, I definitely tried to have a social life. But I found it so hard to make friends! I’ve had people ghost me, influencers I met at events smile in my face then block me the next day, and all kinds of drama trying to make new female friends. I eventually gave up, and then there was covid so I kind of stopped thinking about it, but it was definitely a drag not being able to make female friends the way I did in other cities I moved to.
If you are thinking about moving to LA or are new in town, let me know in the comments, especially if you have more questions you want me to answer.!
LA Art Scene: All the Summer Exhibits You Can't Miss
Exploring art museums and galleries is one of my favorite ways to pass time. NYC is full of options, but since I moved to LA I needed to spend sometime getting to explore the art scene here. At first I wanted to spend as much time outside as possible, but since the weather has suddenly gotten crazy hot it’s time for more fun in the AC. Here are a few of the exhibits on my list to check out this summer, everywhere from Santa Monica to DTLA!
Soul of a Nation at the Broad
This exhibit will be on view until September and explores contributions of Black artists from the civil rights movement through the 80’s. LA based artists will also be specifically highlighted for their often overlooked role in the art and history of the civil rights movement. Get tickets here!
40 for LA at MOCA
MOCA, LA’s Museum of Contemporary Art is celebrating their 40 year anniversary with a multimedia exhibition features archives from the museum’s vault, including rare photographs and lithographs, limited-edition objects and a special homage to all of the artists to whom the museum is indebted. This is your chance to understand some of the key elements that defined the museum and made it what it is today. Tickets and visiting information here!
Take Me Out to the Ball Game at The Grammy Museum
The Grammy Museum is unique with it’s focus on the cultural impact of music throughout generations. Take Me Out to the Ball Game highlights how the rise of baseball and baseball music ushered in a new era of American music in the early 1900s and the eventual impact it had on modern, popular music genres from pop to R&B. And while you are there, don’t miss the Backstreet Boys experience if you want to relive some of your favorite 90’s jams. Visitor’s info here!
The Liberator at California African-American Museum
The Liberator was an early 20th-century newspaper that documented the emerging African American population in Los Angeles. Founded in 1900 by Jefferson Lewis Edmonds, a former slave who advocated for improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans the publication reported on local, national, and international news and portrayed Los Angeles as a city of hope for African Americans and an escape from the violence and hardship they experienced in the South. This exhibit sheds light on paper’s contributions to city’s rapidly increasing black population and its challenges in a post-Reconstruction era. Details here!
Anything at LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) isn’t just a hot spot for Instagram pics! It’s the largest art museum in the western United States and has a whole host of unique seasonal exhibitions and an impressive core collection. Considering it’s size, give yourself plenty of time to try to take it all in.
Fearless Fashion at the Skirbal Center
Obviously this fashionista wouldn’t miss an exhibit dedicated to style! Fearless Fashion explores the visionary and progressive ensembles by LA based designer Rudi Gernreich. Rudi introduced the monokini, thongs, unisex caftans, pantsuits for women that transcended rigid social expectations and championed authenticity above all. Check out the retrospective on his work through September 1st.
Contact High at the Annenberg Space for Photography
If you are a hip-hop head, don’t miss this one! This exhibit chronicles the work of hip-hop photographers that played a role in bringing the music genre’s visual culture to the global stage. Get an intimate look at contact sheets from portrait sessions with hip-hop legends like Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar. Rare videos, memorabilia, and music are also on display.
Let me know which ones you check out and what you think!