A Local Expert’s Guide To Where to Live in Los Angeles: 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Call Home
Los Angeles is a vast and vibrant city where modernity meets more than a century of fascinating history, in addition to being a global bastion for the entertainment industry and the arts. While best known as a creative and business hub, the city of Los Angeles offers several opportunities in aerospace, logistics, tech, government, and more. Since millions of people are drawn to the unique sprawl of Los Angeles, where you have both a concrete jungle and breathtaking natural vistas, it can be an expensive place to live. However, the LA life is inimitable, affordable dining options abound, and there's more transit than outsiders realize. This guide is based on my personal experience getting a feel for the city over almost five years after a lifetime of being a New Yorker to best help you find the right neighborhood for your lifestyle and budget without compromising your quality of life.
DTLA
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA to locals) is a neighborhood I'm rather biased in favor of as someone hailing from NYC. If you come from a denser metropolis like NYC or Chicago, DTLA is an excellent place to get used to LA before you dip your toe into farther-flung neighborhoods. Housing is primarily high-rise apartment buildings, with economical low-rise options on the outskirts. If you live and work in DTLA, you don't even need a car: everything you could possibly need or want is right at your fingertips, with endless bus route options and almost every Metro subway line nearby. Amtrak, Metrolink commuter rail, and national and regional buses are less than 15 minutes away at Union Station. If you need to drive, DTLA is encircled by the 10 and 101, with quick hops to the 5 and 110, making it a snap to go almost anywhere in SoCal.
Discount and designer shops alike can be found a block apart, as can restaurants ranging from hole-in-the-wall burrito joints to destination fine dining such as Mrs. Fish and the historic Cicada Club. If you're like me and you hate to cook, DTLA is a dream come true: every type of cuisine at every price point is around the corner, whether it's local and national franchises or mom and pop coffee shops with house-made baked goods. Bottega Louie is a must-visit for their meme-worthy cube-shaped croissants priced at only $3.50.
Locals and tourists alike come to the Staples Center (locals will never refer to it as the Crypto.com Arena), LA Live, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall for major events, with mid-size venues like The Belasco and 1720 hosting local and touring bands and DJs. LA is often criticized for lacking a central nightlife district, with bars, nightclubs, and venues largely being scattered all over the city. But if you love to go out, DTLA is your best option for that type of nightlife. It's very easy to bar-hop and hit several clubs in a row without needing to Uber to another neighborhood.
LA is known for its thriving flea market and swap meet culture, and DTLA's density doesn't stop it from participating: Row DTLA, a former factory complex turned into upscale retail and restaurants, transforms into Smorgasburg every Sunday, and Los Feliz Flea now lives on Alpine Street. The Grand Central Market has permanent and rotating food vendors, in addition to a weekend flea market downstairs.
DTLA is also home to several corporate headquarters, including major banks, financial companies, law firms, and media and entertainment companies. Government employees who aren't sent to the main state campus in Van Nuys are usually stationed in DTLA, in the Civic Center housing the LA Superior Court and a federal building.
DTLA apartments offer excellent value whether you work from home or walk to work. Subsequently, the neighborhood is popular with singles and couples in their thirties and forties.
Jewelry District
The Jewelry District is part of DTLA, but specifically refers to the blocks east of Pershing Square until you enter Skid Row. The area got its name for all of the jewelry stores and wholesale jewelry and gold suppliers that cropped up in the 1960s. Many of those stores are still around today, as are the well-preserved parts of the "Historic Core" of DTLA.
Most of the buildings in the Jewelry District are over 100 years old. I've walked around there and seen how they were originally designed to have storefronts on the street level and offices on top, but many of those unoccupied office spaces have been converted to apartments.
The small neighborhood has a host of hidden treasures beyond the obvious gold and diamonds in the windows. Historic buildings abound, and you can visit world-famous multi-level used book and record shop, The Last Bookstore. A mini food hall tucked between Broadway and Spring Street, the Spring Arcade, offers Thai food, gelato, Mexican food, and more, while free concerts and flea markets at Pershing Square are just a block away.
Just like other parts of DTLA, you can find excellent value in the Jewelry District as it's one of the few areas in the city that prioritizes density over cars.
Fashion District
Technically, you aren't out of DTLA until you're past its southern boundary of the 101, so the Fashion District is considered part of downtown by many. You won't see as many shiny new buildings and tourists in the southeastern edge of downtown as you would in the core above 9th Street. Similar to the Jewelry District, the Fashion District is meant more for business shoppers in the garment industry rather than retail apparel.
But if you're a crafty sort, you will love living in the Fashion District. As a jewelry maker and sewist myself, I can point out that Maple Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets is your oasis of independent fabric, bead, and rhinestone shops. Several are open to the public with no business license or minimum purchase required, unlike its more formal NYC counterpart. You'll find treasures for your crafts that you won't in chain stores, and even bump shoulders with costumers and prop masters shopping for chains and textiles to outfit the cast of the latest Netflix series. LA has a large garment industry, and the Fashion District is where independent upcoming designers and students at nearby FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) come for their supplies.
Not into crafting and fashion? That's alright, the Fashion District is an affordable place to live because it's more low-key. Housing is mostly smaller and older apartment buildings with fewer amenities, and demographics skew older with more multigenerational households. Designers in live-work spaces are a common sight. The 101 is extremely close by, and the 10 is the next closest freeway. The Fashion District isn't as close to the Metro as core DTLA, but it's very doable to rely on the buses or walk from Pico station if you plan to forego a car.
Mexican, Persian, and Middle Eastern casual restaurants are scattered around the Fashion District, notably along 9th Street and Pico Boulevard. Santee Alley is a fun place to spend an afternoon shopping for affordable clothes and accessories, with tacos to look forward to. If you're looking for an affordable apartment in LA and want to be in a central location that makes it easy to go almost anywhere by car or transit, the Fashion District is an underrated choice.
Historic Core
The Historic Core, as the name implies, encompasses the historic parts of DTLA. It has some overlap with the Jewelry District, Skid Row, and the huge swath of former theaters along Broadway. DTLA has one of the world's largest concentrations of historic theater buildings, although many of them have been turned into retail or office spaces despite their original marquees and sweeping baroque-inspired architecture still visible. The Orpheum on Broadway is the sole historic theater in the district still hosting performances after significant renovations.
Housing in the Historic Core is a blend of pre-WWII apartment buildings, converted lofts, and modern high-rise apartment buildings. As is the case with most DTLA housing, you'll tend to find a better deal in an older building than a modern apartment tower chock full of amenities. While younger professionals are drawn to the Historic Core for its affordability and proximity to DTLA employers, there is also a significant retiree population in Historic Core buildings predating California's statewide rent control law.
As the latest restaurant franchises and new high-rise developments pop up next to these historic buildings, it can seem like the neighborhood can't decide if it wants to modernize or stay true to its roots. No matter which fork in the path it goes, the Historic Core remains an excellent place to find transit-friendly value in your next apartment or rental home.
Mid-Wilshire
A hop and skip from the exciting nightlife of Koreatown to the east and the Fairfax District to the north, Mid-Wilshire is their more affordable counterpart. You'll find classic LA dingbat-style apartments along with low-rise buildings and single-family homes. Subsequently, the demographics are fairly diverse with more young families and multigenerational homes than you'll see in Hollywood and DTLA, but also plenty of couples and singles seeking quieter and more affordable housing that's still in LA.
When I walk down a major arterial road like La Brea, I definitely notice that it's not as dense as Koreatown and DTLA to the east. Mid-Wilshire isn't very transit-rich, but it's easier to find parking there than in busier neighborhoods like Fairfax and Miracle Mile. There are express and local buses that run along Wilshire Boulevard, and I haven't had trouble catching them any time of day. Additionally, a new Metro purple line station on La Brea and Wilshire is expected to open in 2025, opening up more commuting and transit options to Mid-Wilshire and Miracle Mile residents. The neighborhood is about 5 minutes from the 10 and 15 minutes from the 101.
Shopping and dining are primarily found along the main drags of La Brea, Pico, and San Vicente, and you can enjoy the novelty of Lucy's Drive-In: your typical mom and pop taqueria seen all over the city, except you can order a reasonably-priced meal from your car.
Mid-Wilshire is a fairly quiet neighborhood, with many young families and couples choosing it for its low-key qualities while still retaining proximity to entertainment and work hubs. It remains one of the more affordable options for apartments in core LA, especially compared to trendy neighborhoods nearby like Fairfax, Melrose, and West Hollywood.
Crenshaw
Like many other neighborhoods outside of LA's downtown core, Crenshaw has a distinctive main drag on Crenshaw Boulevard with sprawling tree-lined residential streets.Some blocks in the neighborhood really make me feel like I'm in a time capsule from the 1960s. Low-rise apartment buildings and "half-bat" apartment blocks unique to LA still retain their earth-tone vinyl from the late 1960s, and bungalows and single-story ranchers are common sights in Crenshaw. You'll also see some Googie artifacts along the commercial blocks in their original glory, taking you back to the famed architect's love of bold colors and shapes that defined SoCal landmarks in the mid-20th century.
While Crenshaw isn't as rife with hyper-modern residential and commercial architecture like DTLA to the east and Culver City to the west, the neighborhood is experiencing a major transformation with the addition of the Metro K line. The K starts a block from the E line on Expo and Crenshaw and goes all the way to Westchester-Veterans, which is about 10 minutes from LAX. At the time of writing, there are plans to create new stations and seamlessly connect the K line to the airport. By car, Crenshaw is only about a 20-minute drive from LAX and adjacent to the 10, with the 110 and 405 about 10 minutes away.
Although Crenshaw is known for its industrial areas, it is also near the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area which offers several miles of bucolic hiking trails, Gwen Moore Lake, and breathtaking vistas of the Santa Monica Mountains and the west side of the city. The idyllic refuge tucked into the urban landscape, combined with Crenshaw's affordable rents and expanding transit options, make the neighborhood an attractive option if you work and play in West Los Angeles and central LA.
West Adams
West Adams sits right below the 10 and near the 101, about 10 minutes from the bustle of DTLA by car and 20 minutes by bus. A quieter and more affordable alternative to the downtown core, West Adams is a primarily residential area home to young families and multi-generational households.
Although there are small apartment buildings scattered around the neighborhood, with taller and newer buildings along arterial streets like Normandie Avenue, West Adams is mostly comprised of single-family homes in several different historical styles. Georgian Revival, Victorian, Queen Anne, and Craftsman houses built in the 1920s can be found all over West Adams, including several notable landmark homes like the Walker House and Guasti Villa. I have a strong sense of LA's history when walking through West Adams, as the stately homes lining quiet blocks clearly have stories to tell.
West Adams is a popular neighborhood for students given its proximity to the University of Southern California and Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Employees of these institutions can enjoy short commutes from West Adams in addition to the extreme proximity to downtown, and easy access to the west side via the 10 and Metro E line. Exposition Park is a very quick bus or car ride away with a host of institutions tucked inside the massive park, including the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California Science Center, California African-American Museum, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, LA Memorial Coliseum, and much more. Many of the museums in the park also have a free admission day for locals, usually Wednesdays.
West Adams is an excellent choice for students and commuters to find an affordable apartment without compromising proximity to services, restaurants and retail, and fun things to do.
Southeast Los Angeles
Southeast Los Angeles encompasses neighborhoods east of the 110 and south of the 10 such as Florence, Vernon, South Gate, and Watts. These areas are among some of the most affordable neighborhoods in Los Angeles as they are farther from the downtown core, Hollywood, and west side. Industrial and logistics jobs are also plentiful in the area, with many warehouses, shipping hubs, and manufacturing plants immediately south of the Los Angeles River.
While some parts of these largely-residential areas are quite dense, Southeast Los Angeles always makes me fully me feel the sprawl on which the city was built. The longest light rail line in the world, the Metro A that runs between Long Beach and Azusa, goes through southeast LA but the area is very car-dependent with the 10, 110, 105, and 710 about 15 minutes away. However, if you work at LAX or travel frequently but don't want to live on the west side or pay west side prices, Southeast Los Angeles is only 20 minutes from LAX via a straight shot across the 105 since there's no traffic from Hollywood and DTLA.
Housing types in Southeast Los Angeles are mostly low-rise apartments, including large lots of two-story apartment buildings, but some neighborhoods feature taller apartment towers, like Slauson and Watts. Huntingdon Park has distinctive row houses that feel more like they came from Philadelphia than LA, and small single-family homes and bungalows can be found throughout the area. Living up to the infamous LA sprawl, many areas of Southeast Los Angeles feel like they go on forever with long stretches of sparse main drags occasionally interrupted by a regional chain restaurant that took over a Googie relic.
If you like shopping for bargains and interesting finds, LA's swap meet culture thrives in Southeast Los Angeles. Alameda Swap Meet and El Faro Plaza host all kinds of local vendors and can easily comprise your weekend plans.
Southeast Los Angeles promises adventure and a greater likelihood of finding a good deal on an apartment than you would north of the 10.
Union Station
Many other major cities in the US, such as NYC and Chicago, place their rail hubs in a central and extremely walkable hub of the city's downtown or central business district. LA is an exception in that Union Station is just outside the downtown core in a very central part of the city, but the area surrounding the train and bus hub is not as walkable as its downtown counterpart. I definitely had some culture shock seeing how many highways surrounded the area, with nearby bars and restaurants not being slammed with throngs of people the way they would in Penn Station and other East Coast counterparts.
Because Union Station is associated more with commuting and traveling than its environs, LA's long-distance rail hub is a surprisingly affordable place to live. While the area immediately surrounding Union Station isn't as walkable and scenic as DTLA proper, there are many great deals on nearby apartments. Additionally, it is very easy to live without a car in the area as almost every Metro line can be picked up at Union Station along with near-infinite bus options to get around the city and surrounding counties. Amtrak can take you anywhere from Orange County all the way to Texas and Metrolink can cut gas bills en route to San Bernandino County, or even just speed-run you to Glendale and Burbank. You'll also never have to pay for airport parking or expensive rides ever again when you can just walk to the LAX FlyAway bus in Patsaouras Bus Plaza to go straight to the airport: it even spares you from the misery of the LAX-It Lot after you fly home, with curbside pick-up at your terminal.
Buses can take you south of the 101 if you don't want to look for parking just a few minutes away or walk through overpasses. But once you get your bearings in the neighborhood and veer away from the smoggy highways, you'll find gems like Olvera Street, which resembles a small and bright piece of Mexico right in your own backyard with authentic Mexican dishes and handmade goods from shops that have been in the area for generations. Chinatown is also a hop and skip away, with colorful dragon gates, dim sum houses, and Chinese bakeries offering respite from the crowds in DTLA proper.
Union Station vicinity is the perfect neighborhood to move to if you love taking trains and don't want to drive. If you want to keep a car there, it's very centrally-located next to the 110 and 101 to go virtually anywhere in a snap. Commuting to major employers in DTLA can be done in less than 10 minutes, and many government agencies have offices near Union Station like the Department of Corrections, Internal Revenue Service, and more. This makes the area more popular with single professionals than families, but rents are comparably more affordable near Union Station relative to areas like Hollywood and the west side.
West Los Angeles
The west side of LA is home to some of the most desirable real estate in the country: sweeping Beverly Hills estates, hip Westwood condos, and other pricey properties that make me feel like I'm on a movie set rather than a street where people actually live. But the tract designated as West Los Angeles has some surprisingly affordable gems on the west side.
Tucked between Century City and Sawtelle, West Los Angeles sits next to the 10 and 405, allowing for quick access to the Valley and a 15-minute ride to LAX if traffic is light. The quiet residential area is also close to the Expo-Sepulveda and Westwood-Rancho Park Metro E line stations and Big Blue Bus lines to Santa Monica which is about 10 minutes away via the Metro E. DTLA is approximately 40 minutes away via the Metro E, and the Metro D purple line station in nearby Westwood is expected to open in 2026.
Because of its proximity to Westwood and the VA Medical Center, West Los Angeles is a popular neighborhood for UCLA students, medical staff, and professors. Game developers are also a significant demographic, as several major studios are located on the west side. As Westwood proper skews more towards singles, West Los Angeles has a mix of singles, couples, young families, and empty nesters. Single-family homes outnumber apartments in the area, which tend to be clustered around the Metro stations. Apartments on purely residential blocks are more affordable low-rise apartments with fewer amenities than their Westwood high-rise counterparts.
I always got a more relaxed suburban feel in West Los Angeles compared to the west side neighborhoods north of Santa Monica Boulevard. Streets are wider and cleaner than in many other parts of the city, and you can find a surprisingly affordable rental compared to more in-demand areas like Culver City and Westwood.
