Could you survive with $2800 per month in LA?

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/f...f/932105/m/846102181

Don't be fooled. You can. Easily. I've done it with much less.

I live on less than that in NYC as well.

Are you kidding me!!!

What kind of crazy high roller are you!? You can live very comfortably in LA for $1600. At least thats what I am doing it on now and I feel comfortable. In the past I have lived off of $1200 in NYC. The recent past. Just be smart. If going out to clubs and eating out is necessary for you to survive, then no. You can't live on that. But otherwise....come on.

You can live very nicely on that amnout

I have never been to LA before, I am coming from Australisia and this is all I have to spend and take with me after converting the currency here, its alot in our money but I got a shock and thought it was by far less and unsurvivable in LA but if you all say that is more than enough to last a month in LA, thats perfect then that makes me a bit more confident that I wont go broke...

Also what is a comfortable amount to take in LA for 90 days (3 months)?

quote:

Originally posted by Erskine:
Are you kidding me!!!

What kind of crazy high roller are you!? You can live very comfortably in LA for $1600. At least thats what I am doing it on now and I feel comfortable. In the past I have lived off of $1200 in NYC. The recent past. Just be smart. If going out to clubs and eating out is necessary for you to survive, then no. You can't live on that. But otherwise....come on.

I agree with Erskine. I'd say, including adding some money just for safety, I can live quite comfortably on $1600 a month. But I'm a fairly frugal person, and I don't eat out or do nightlife a whole lot.

quote:

Originally posted by kriscal:
Also what is a comfortable amount to take in LA for 90 days (3 months)?

Well, your biggest factor is going to be rent. What are your living arrangements? Is it just you? Are you staying with a friend? If you haven't found a place just yet, it'll be hard to say, as rent varies greatly from area to area and how many people you're living with or not.

Another factor, as miss stone points out, is going to be what you plan on doing while here. If you're just scoping out the place and getting your bearings, then you should be just fine. But if you're getting headshots and taking classes and stuff, you'll of course need to plan for that. Prices vary on those of course.

quote:

Originally posted by kriscal:
I have never been to LA before, I am coming from Australisia and this is all I have to spend and take with me after converting the currency here, its alot in our money but I got a shock and thought it was by far less and unsurvivable in LA but if you all say that is more than enough to last a month in LA, thats perfect then that makes me a bit more confident that I wont go broke...

How many months do you have saved up? If you think you can come for a month to see if you can get something going and base your opinion to stay or not on the outcome, you will be SORELY disappointed. This is a marathon not a sprint.

Once you've settled in and know your expenses per month, you can live on $1600/month, and certainly for 2,800. However, moving here and all of the acting related startup expenses will run you a big bill. The deposit on your apt. will be around 1 mo. rent. As an actor you will have a lot of expenses others don't have like headshots, demo reels, classes, online subscriptions, printing/postage fees, workshops, union dues, etc.

That is quiet good to know. In Australia and especially NZ it is possible to live on these budgets, if you really skimp on all expenses as this is definately cutting lots of costs and is limiting however most live on $1900 or $2300pm. I think LA is by far sounding more cheaper than here, in these countries everything is expensive and taxed at a high rate, NZ being the worst for really ripping people off (and this is a country with only 3-4 million people)! I somehow thought LA would be by far way more expensive but if you all say these figures, I'm rather looking forward to LA financially, for me this budget is just enough here.

To advise, in these countries, $2800 is not being a High Roller- it is an average to medium salary which really still isnt enough. To really high roll, $3000+ is what is needed then thats comfortable.