How to Find an Apartment in Los Angeles (Without a Casting Call for Roommates)

Thinking about making the jump to the West Coast? People moving to Los Angeles do so for all kinds of reasons: A more relaxed lifestyle, the allure of living near Hollywood or the ocean, a new job, or just the fantastic weather! If you’re undertaking long-distance moving, you may be wondering how to find an apartment in Los Angeles. What are the best neighborhoods? How much can I expect to pay in rent? And is it hard to get an apartment in Los Angeles?

As you begin your search for the perfect neighborhood and start apartment hunting, work through our easy guide and quick tips, and you’ll be settling into your new Angeleno lifestyle in no time. But first, we’ll cover two burning questions about where to live in Los Angeles:

What’s the Average Rent in Los Angeles?

Finding an apartment in Los Angeles is a monumental feat of budgeting. Like New York or other large metros, rent varies widely throughout the city and depends on the neighborhood. But overall, how much is a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles? Average rent is about $2,750 (for 790 square feet). If you’re looking to live in Venice or another oceanfront community, expect to pay quite a bit more (while they can be as low as $2,250 if you’re lucky, they can reach around $5,075). The best way to learn how to find an apartment in Los Angeles is a willingness to explore more inland and eclectic areas; it’s easier to find more manageable rents in these areas.

For more affordable rentals, try apartment hunting in Los Angeles neighborhoods in Northeast LA and South Central.

How Do You Find Affordable Housing in Los Angeles?

When figuring out how to find apartments in Los Angeles, note that while certain parts of Los Angeles will never be cheap (we’re looking at you, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills), if you’re flexible on location and proximity to amenities like the beach, you can score rents closer to what you may have experienced in a smaller city (think in the mid-$1,000s). The best way to find apartments in Los Angeles with more affordable digs? Check out neighborhoods in Northeast LA and South Central.

How to Find Apartments in Los Angeles That Impress

Apartment hunting in Los Angeles begins with knowing what you’re looking for in a home. What are your personal priorities for housing and lifestyle? Follow these steps to figure out where to live, how to find an apartment in LA, and how to seal the deal.

Step 1: Create Your Own Definition of What Makes the “Best Place To Live in Los Angeles”

Everyone has their own idea of what makes a place feel like “home.” Before you get into apartment hunting in Los Angeles, sit down with a cup of coffee and ask yourself what’s really important to you in a neighborhood or home.

Define Your Priorities

What’s important to you in a home? Are you set on an ocean view or access to great nightlife? Do you care more about being able to walk everywhere you need to go or having more square footage? Or is it all about the dollars? Make a list of what’s a “must-have,” “nice-to-have,” and “not important” to you.

LA is well known for its terrible traffic, so the best way to find apartments in Los Angeles is to start your search close to where you work.

Consider Your Commute

With some of the worst traffic on Earth, LA natives would tell you straight up, the best way to decide how to find an apartment in Los Angeles is to live close to where you work. While LA does have a large public transit system, Los Angeles is mainly a driving city, with highways that are frequently jammed. If you know where you’ll be working, consider what commuting time you’re willing to endure. And if you’re not sure where you’ll be working yet, do some research on where your industry’s main companies are located.

Zero In on Your Budget for Rent and Cost of Living

While it would be nice to think you can find something in your budget in any area, the fact is that some areas simply cost far more to live in, while others are still relatively affordable. Be realistic about what would be comfortable for you when apartment hunting in Los Angeles. Salaries and wages are typically higher in LA than in other places in the U.S., but the cost of living is higher to match.

Step 2: Learn How to Find an Apartment in Los Angeles Based on Your Top Neighborhood Choices

Once you’ve figured out some attributes you’d prefer in a neighborhood or area of the city, the next step is figuring out how to find an apartment in Los Angeles based on those preferences.

Armed With Your Priorities, Focus on a Few Great Los Angeles Neighborhoods

Use our guide to the best Los Angeles neighborhoods to explore average rent in LA by neighborhood, what to expect in different areas of town, and to get an idea of what part of Los Angeles might be right for you.

For example, Los Feliz is very popular and a known “hip” area with lots of eclectic shops and restaurants, while Pasadena sports a more laid-back, suburban feel. If you want to be close to the beach (and don’t mind sitting in traffic to get into the city), there’s Santa Monica and Venice. Truly, there’s something for everyone! But do your research on the full picture before narrowing down your list to two or three.

Once you have a few ‘hoods you’re interested in, go explore! Check out different areas both during the day and at night to get a feel for the vibe and what each area has to offer.

Determine what you need and want (and can afford) before you start apartment hunting in Los Angeles.

Decide What Type of Apartment You Need

With your rent budget and target neighborhood in mind, it’s also helpful to focus on the specific kind of apartment situation you need. For instance, if you’re planning to live alone and not quite making a one-bedroom salary, you may want to look for a studio apartment for rent in Los Angeles. On the other hand, if you’re planning on living with roommates, sites like Facebook, Craigslist, or Listings Project (where you can find individual rooms for sublet) are great places to start your search.

If open-concept living is important to you — great if you’re big on entertaining — you might want to try searching “loft apartment Los Angeles,” since lofts can look and feel extra spacious. Or if you’re only planning on living in Los Angeles for a short time and it’s not worth hauling all of your furniture into the city, try searching for “furnished apartment Los Angeles” or toggling on the “furnished” option on various listing sites.

Search on Your Feet

Is it hard to get an apartment in Los Angeles? Well, we’re not going to sugarcoat things. It can be. Not because there aren’t apartments available, but because Los Angeles is a hot rental market. This means desirable apartments don’t last long, especially since recent government moves have stopped egregious rent hikes.

We recommend exploring some of the neighborhoods you’re interested in on foot. Not only will you get a unique sense of what the neighborhood is like, but you can also spot “for rent” signs outside homes and apartment complexes. Sometimes openings are snapped up so quickly, they don’t make it to the internet! If you have a keen eye and good walking shoes, this can be the best way to find apartments in Los Angeles.

And Scour Online Listings

Apartment hunting in Los Angeles requires some endurance, though. If you’re moving from afar and can’t pound the pavement, or don’t have luck that way, you’ll want to take your time looking around online. As in other cities, the internet is a great source for aggregated listings from management companies as well as hidden gems across the city’s neighborhoods. Here are some of the best apartment rental sites in Los Angeles:

• Westside Rentals
• TheRentalGirl.com
• Apartment List
• Apartments.com
• HotPads
• Rent.com
• Zumper
• Craigslist
• Trulia

Check Out Potential Rentals in Person

Seriously — this is a must! Apartment hunting in Los Angeles is a tricky business right now, and it’s essential that you’re able to see a place in person to view the neighborhood and building — and also to see how closely the apartment matches the photos. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. Finding an apartment in Los Angeles takes patience, but never settle and never rent blindly.

Step 3: Close the Deal

You’ve found the perfect place. How do you lock it in?

Do Your Research

When apartment hunting in Los Angeles, it’s important to do your due diligence on those you’ll be doing business with. Take the time to search Yelp and other review sites for your potential apartment complex. Then, go a step further and research their management or ownership company. This will give you a feel for others’ experiences dealing with them, how easy or difficult it might be to get issues fixed, and the overall helpfulness of the management team.

If you’re apartment hunting in Los Angeles and see one you’re really interested in, bring all your paperwork to the viewing so you can apply on-site — the market moves fast.

Have All Your Documents Ready, and Move Fast

With LA’s low vacancy rate, lower-cost rentals can get very competitive. When it comes to how to find an apartment in Los Angeles, here’s one of the most important tips: If you’ve scheduled a viewing, bring all your relevant documents and references with you so you can apply on-site if you love it. You’d hate to lose out on a place you’re qualified for just because you had to run home to grab proof of income!

Know Your Rights

With the high cost of real estate, more than half of Los Angeles residents are renters. Los Angeles has renters’ rights you should be aware of as you move into a new place, including the right to a clean and habitable home, 24 hours’ notice before a landlord visit, and, in some areas, interest on the deposit paid. Be prepared with this comprehensive list of Los Angeles Renter’s Rights.

Finding an Apartment in Los Angeles – FAQs

Q: What is the easiest way to find an apartment?
A: While walking around can be effective, it is much easier to see more listings in the modern age with rental apps and websites. Many have tons of filters you can use to curate your selection, navigating thousands of options in seconds. Some platforms also let you know if the prices are good for the area, how long rentals have been on the market, and other data about the neighborhood.

Q: What is the 30% rule for apartments?
A: The cost of your apartment should not exceed 30 percent of your gross income. If it does, you might be stretching yourself thin, cutting out some of life’s other luxuries to make ends meet. The fortunate few are able to drop this number down below 30 percent, which can make your lifestyle feel really comfortable. You may want to consider what your current income-to-rent ratio is before looking at LA apartments.

Q: Where in LA has the cheapest rent?
A: The average rent for an apartment in Los Angeles is around $2,750, according to RentCafe, with an average apartment size of 809 square feet. Data proves there are cheaper options. For example, you could look at Vermont Knolls, where RentCafe says the average rent for a one-bedroom is between $1,000 and $1,650. One-bedroom apartments in Winnetka can be as low as $1,650. You’ll have money leftover to travel, eat out, and even save if you choose to live in these neighborhoods. Compare that to the most expensive Los Angeles neighborhood, Historic South-Central, which can be as high as $4,300.

Q: Is LA rent cheaper than NYC?
A: New York City, specifically in Manhattan, is much more expensive than Los Angeles. While a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles costs around $2,550, you are going to pay potentially double in Manhattan. The average rent for a one-bed Manhattan apartment is $5,150, and the average apartment size is 709 square feet. And don’t forget that New York City is going to have long, cold winters to boot. It makes Los Angeles look like a good deal when you think about West Coast prices vs. East Coast prices in one of the largest cities in New York State.

Q: What credit score do you need to rent in LA?
A: Property managers use a credit score to make a decision about whether or not to let you become a tenant in their building. According to Experian, the average credit score in the U.S. was 713 in 2025. But even adding a few points by making sure your credit history is up to date and accurate can increase the chances that you will be able to rent an apartment in Los Angeles in a neighborhood you like. Every step you take to increase your credit score and get a better number ensures you can live where you want in Los Angeles.

Q: How much do you need to make to rent an apartment in Los Angeles?
A: This is a personal decision in some ways — some people are better at living on less and budgeting every purchase, while others may want to have more discretionary income because they have a sizable salary in Los Angeles. As of 2026, a single adult living in major metro areas likely needs an income of at least $150,000, according to SmartAsset, to feel like they are living comfortably. In Los Angeles, it is a little cheaper, where the salary needed for one person is around $120,300. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to budget for housing, the sweet spot is 30 percent of your income.

Q: Is $80,000 enough to live in Los Angeles?
A: Though the salary you need depends on factors like where you live, your rent, and other living costs, a net income of $80,000 is enough for an individual to live well in many parts of Los Angeles. According to MIT, the average salary after tax needed to live comfortably in Los Angeles for one adult with no children is the equivalent of $28.92 per hour.

Q: What is the best site to find an apartment in Los Angeles?
A: If you’re wondering how to find an apartment in Los Angeles, you may have your fingers crossed for a website full of a hidden trove of affordable Los Angeles listings or some magic apartment locator in Los Angeles, but sadly, there’s no such luck at the moment. The good news is that there are a ton of options from the most well-known rental sites. Locals also recommend sites with a smaller search zone, like WestsideRentals, Facebook Groups, or Marketplace apartment listings, or Craigslist. 

Apartment hunting in Los Angeles can be challenging, but it will all be worth it once you find your perfect place in the City of Angels.

Unpack How to Find an Apartment in Los Angeles With PODS City Service

You have bested apartment hunting in Los Angeles, and now it’s time to dig into everything the City of Angels has to offer. Streamline your move to LA with PODS City Service — containerized moving designed for big-city moves. PODS delivers you a durable, steel-framed container on a truck that you can load to your heart’s content (and organizational preferences)! PODS can also recommend local packing and loading services to assist with carrying all your heavy boxes and furniture. The best part? No city driving needed on your part. Now, go forth and find your favorite taco truck!

Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Karen Dybis is a freelance journalist and a frequent contributor to the PODS Blog. Her work has appeared in Time magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The Detroit News, and more.

Editor’s note: For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100. Home values in the millions were rounded to the nearest $100,000.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}