Essentials
- City
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Population
- 3,820,000 (City), 12,500,000 (Metro Area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps (Fiber available via AT&T and Google Fiber)
- Currency & Banking
- USD ($). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, but many residents prefer filtered water due to mineral taste.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile ($50/mo), Verizon ($70/mo), Mint Mobile ($15/mo prepaid)
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, and major US banks with Social Security Number (SSN).
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Zillow, Apartments.com, Landing (furnished rentals)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Blueground (furnished), Sonder, Hello Landing
- Budget Accommodation
- Freehand Los Angeles (approx. $50/dorm, $220/private), HI Los Angeles Santa Monica
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Santa Monica (Beach access), West Hollywood (Nightlife, central)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Silver Lake (Creative vibe), Playa Vista (Silicon Beach), Los Feliz (Walkable)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Second Home Hollywood ($25/day, $400/mo), WeWork (Multiple locations)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Dose (West Hollywood), Verve Coffee Roasters (DTLA), Dinosaur Coffee (Silver Lake)
- Networking Events
- Tech LA Meetups, Silicon Beach Networking, General Assembly Workshops
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Los Angeles, Los Angeles Expat Meetup Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Metro Bike Share ($5/day), Lime, Bird scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Santa Monica State Beach, Manhattan Beach (cleaner/quieter)
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines
- Top International Airline
- United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta (LAX Hub)
- Highway Access
- Major arteries: I-5, I-10, I-405, US-101
- Public Transport Passes
- TAP Card ($2 for card, $5 for Day Pass, $18 for 7-Day Pass)
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (to San Diego/Santa Barbara), Metrolink
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Union Station (DTLA)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Love Yoga (Venice), Wanderlust Hollywood, Modo Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Equinox ($250+/mo), Gold's Gym Venice ($60/mo), LA Fitness ($40/mo)
- Laundry Services
- Bubble Beach Laundry (Santa Monica), Rinse (Pick-up/Delivery app)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, Postmates, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Street Tacos (Leo's Tacos Truck), Korean BBQ (Park's BBQ in Koreatown)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sage Regenerative Kitchen, Gracias Madre, Crossroads Kitchen
- Best Dessert Spots
- Milk Jar Cookies, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, Bottega Louie
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's, ALDI, Ralphs (with rewards card)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery), eBay
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- West Hollywood (The Abbey), Downtown LA (Arts District)
- Local Brewery
- Angel City Brewery, Golden Road Brewing
- Wine Bars
- Esters Wine Shop & Bar (Santa Monica), Wally's Beverly Hills
- Street Food Stalls
- Smorgasburg LA (Sundays at ROW DTLA), Grand Central Market
- Popular International Cuisine
- Jitlada (Thai), Marugame Udon (Japanese), Pine & Crane (Taiwanese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Getty Center, LACMA, The Broad
- Historical Sites
- El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Bradbury Building, Hollyhock House
- Religious Sites
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Wayfarers Chapel
- Annual Events
- The Oscars (March), Coachella (April - nearby), LA Pride (June)
- Cultural Districts
- Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Olvera Street
- Theater Venues
- Walt Disney Concert Hall, Pantages Theatre
- Local Markets
- Original Farmers Market (3rd & Fairfax), Melrose Trading Post
- Music Scene
- The Hollywood Bowl, The Echo, Troubadour
- Street Art
- Arts District Murals (DTLA), Melrose Avenue Murals
- Cooking Classes
- The Gourmandise School, Eataly LA Classes
- Art Galleries
- Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian Beverly Hills
- Historic Buildings
- Eastern Columbia Building, Union Station
- Local Heritage
- Hollywood cinematic history, Hispanic and Latino heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Runyon Canyon, Malibu Creek State Park, Topanga State Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Joshua Tree National Park (2.5 hrs), Channel Islands (2 hrs)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Marvin Braude Bike Trail (22 miles along the coast)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mulholland Drive, Griffith Park Observatory Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Echo Park Lake, Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Dockweiler State Beach (Designated fire pits)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, USPS
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (The Grove), uBreakiFix
- Table Tennis Spots
- Gilbert's Table Tennis Center, Spin (DTLA)
- Language Classes
- UCLA Extension, Los Angeles City College (LACC)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Los Angeles Central Library, West Hollywood Library
- Community Centers
- LA LGBT Center, Venice Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Guildhall (Burbank), World 8 (Koreatown)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- The Commerce Casino, The Gardens Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² / 430 sq ft ≈ $420,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² / 430 sq ft ≈ $312,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² / 645 sq ft ≈ $588,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² / 645 sq ft ≈ $432,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² / 860 sq ft ≈ $736,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² / 860 sq ft ≈ $544,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Federal) + 8.84% (California State)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0-30% (Depending on tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Citizenship-based taxation (Federal) / Residency-based (State)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 13.3% (California)
- VAT
- 9.5% (Sales Tax in LA City - No VAT)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, highly complex Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.25% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Documentary Transfer Tax (approx. $1.10 per $1,000)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None; California has high state taxes and no specific nomad incentives