LA: Housing the Rich, the Homeless, and No One in Between

by Anna-Claire Koop (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find USA

I’ve always glorified California. It seemed to be the most glamorous, most classy place in the world, and I wanted nothing more than to live in a twenty million dollar mansion next to stars like Ariana Grande and Brad Pitt. As I got older, I began saving money for trips to Los Angeles, dreaming of running into Emily Blunt or shopping on Rodeo Drive. The second I turned eighteen, I took the opportunity and ran with it. And what I experienced was nothing like I had ever expected. First of all, California is massively expensive. Everyone knows this. LA, however, is on another level of the word. I was visiting with a friend and had a strict budget of four hundred dollars I was allowing myself to spend. This included transportation, food, and entertainment. Simple, right? I thought so. We arrived on Hollywood Boulevard in perfect weather and the most excitement in the city. First up on our bucket list: a bus tour of Hollywood Hills. They were offered everywhere, and had to be fairly cheap. Instead, I dropped about one hundred dollars per ticket, not expecting half of my budget to be blown on one purchase. The experience was fun, though, and I highly recommend doing this sort of thing as long as you’re ready for that expense. Hollywood Hills is beautiful. We were able to see celebrity homes such as Jennifer Lawrence, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven Spielberg, to name a few. We even stopped on Rodeo Drive and I, being the designer geek that I am, took that opportunity and ran with it. I think the least expensive thing we saw that day was a $900 bracelet from Piaget. The day after Hollywood, we planned on spending time in Santa Monica. The Lyft there was around $40 and traffic was brutal. On the bright side, the Santa Monica Pier made up for this by giving us...a twenty dollar Ferris wheel ride. It was gorgeous though, and I wouldn’t take that experience back for anything. The view of the ocean from a hundred-something feet up is not a concept you forget. For fun, my friend and I looked at housing and rent prices in the area. We joked about moving here and spending days at the beach or the strip. That joke ended real fast as soon as we found the cheapest rent price in the area — $6,000 per month. Not happening. Our last day in the area, we decided to explore Echo Park. This is a sight I would highly recommend. The neighborhood is full of Mexican culture, and the beautiful music and food added to the experience. Best part: I spent a total of ten dollars that day. A personal best! Los Angeles has one of the highest homelessness rates in America, and it was definitely noticeable in every area or neighborhood we visited. On our bus tour, the guide explained that a lot of people who were previously homeless up north couldn’t survive there in the winter, so they traveled to LA to get through that difficult time and find ways to live there. The cost of living is not to be overlooked, and though you’ll find some of the most beautiful homes and experiences here, you’ll also find that a one bedroom apartment here is worth about $1,000 more than most cities in the country. Overall, the experience made the cost worth it. My advice to you: budget like you’ve never budgeted before! If you think you’ll spend about $15 per meal, budget for $25. You can also think about cheaper ways to experience this gorgeous city and still get so much out of it. Visit museums, beaches, ride the metro to downtown and attend a farmer’s market! Make it fun and memorable. Even though this city is expensive and large, you’ll never find yourself bored. If you’re one for adventure, culture, and glamour, consider Los Angeles as your next destination for the time of your life. Be smart about it, and have fun!