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.!