The 19th century’s rallying cry may not bring ’em running to Los Angeles neighborhoods as it did when California gold was discovered, but L.A. has opportunity running strong in its veins.
Palm-lined Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood sign and the 2,600 (and counting) stars embedded in the Walk of Fame are glittering reminders of fortunes to be made here. For culture, take your time exploring more than 100 museums that chronicle the area’s rich biodiversity and the histories of its now four million ethnically diverse residents.
The most popular Los Angeles neighborhoods for renters
Despite the Pacific breezes and laid-back southern California attitudes, there’s no lollygagging in La La Land. Learn more about the area and take our Los Angeles neighborhood quiz to find out which area you should call home!
Downtown
Downtown L.A. beckons hipsters who thrive amid the frenetic mishmash of cultural commodities on display during CicLAvia. The event shuts down various streets every other month, but it’s a massive hit that gives cyclists and pedestrians the upper hand — and farm-to-table restaurants like Blue Cow Kitchen Bar a captive audience.
Downtown L.A. apartments will cost you an average of about $3,415 each month for a one-bedroom.
Koreatown
Los Angeles has a larger Korean population than any other American city, so if you’re looking to dive into a plate of culture with a side of kimchi, Koreatown is home. If it’s not fresh, Sun Nong Dan won’t serve it to you, so when you order the traditional oxtail soup, get ready for rich, in-your-face flavor.
It’ll cost you an average of $2,650 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in Koreatown.
East Hollywood
Young entrepreneurs and couples are setting up shop in East Hollywood. A neighborhood in seemingly constant flux, it’s perfect for those who dig the flavor of Koreatown and Little Armenia, but want access to affordable (for now) housing and public transportation via three neighborhood Metro Rail stops.
A one-bedroom apartment in East Hollywood rents for an average of $1,695 a month.
Miracle Mile
Home to L.A.’s best museums, Miracle Mile is perfect for young families who don’t want their children to list “Netflix” as a résumé skill. One of L.A.’s most iconic attractions, The La Brea Tar Pits, have captured the imagination of kids and kids at heart since the first skeletons of mammoths, dire wolves and short-faced bears were plucked from the mire in 1913.
A one-bedroom apartment in Miracle Mile will cost you about $3,500 each month on average.
Mar Vista
Mar Vista is for established professionals focused on their careers, but there’s still a charming rind on this West L.A. community. The weekly Mar Vista Farmers Market is held on Saturdays, and remnants of mid-century architecture in Grand View Historic Commercial District house vintage clothing stores and craft coffee houses like the pseudo-grungy L.A. Grind.
It will cost you about $2,450 a month for an average one-bedroom apartment in Mar Vista.
Santa Monica
This neighborhood’s historic pier hosts the wildly popular Twilight on the Pier, featuring live music from up-and-coming indie and R&B acts, and you can take a dip in glamorous nightlife any day of the week at craft cocktail lounges like Copa d’Oro. Santa Monica schools are top-notch and neighborhoods are safe, so the vibe lies somewhere near the intersection of beach bum and big business.
Due to popular demand, Santa Monica is a little more pricey. A one-bedroom here will cost you more than $5,000 a month on average.
Silver Lake
Some argue that Silver Lake isn’t hip anymore because of its popularity, but there’s no denying this walkable neighborhood’s chill factor. Cuisine here is cutting-edge too. Is the sign-less, website-less Israeli eatery Mh Zh as hot as its hype? Well, the crispy branzino, modestly served on parchment paper with grilled lemon, points to “Yes.”
You can find your next one-bedroom apartment in Silver Lake for under $2,900 on average.
Playa del Rey
The chill vibes are strong with this one. Although Playa del Rey has flirted with development for decades, it remains a bastion of laid-back beach life in Los Angeles. Bike trails, Del Rey Lagoon Park and a funkified negroni called the Woody Barrelson (at the restaurant Salt) make this the perfect place to catch a golden sunset or spend your golden years.
Find the best Los Angeles neighborhood for you
Still not sure which Los Angeles neighborhood is perfect to call your home? Simply answer a few questions and we’ll tell you!
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