So You’re Moving to Los Angeles… Read This First (Guide for LA Newbies)
So You’re Moving to
Los Angeles… Read This First
Guide to LA for Newbies
If you’re thinking about moving to Los Angeles, or just landed and are wondering what you signed up for…this one’s for you. I’ve pulled together the practical, unspoken, sometimes mildly chaotic truths about living here and wrapped them into one beginner-friendly guide. Think of it as the stuff locals eventually figure out… but no one formally explains.
From traffic rhythms to microclimates to social dynamics, these are the real-life tips that will help you adjust faster and feel less like you’re constantly playing catch-up. Welcome to LA.
I have written many helpful blog posts to further help newcomers so if you want more specifics…If you’re looking to visit the top four neighborhoods in LA for tourists, check this out…if you want to know my favorites about living in LA versus my least favorite (my honest two cents) check this post out. So you’re ready for the ugly LA truths, check out this post. And here’s a local’s perspectives on the top tourist attractions, so if you go, just know what us locals think.
You’ll Live (and Stay) in Your Neighborhood, So Choose It Wisely
Los Angeles from Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Photo by L.Tran.
Here’s something no one really tells you about Los Angeles: you will spend most of your life within a few miles of where you live. So choose your neighborhood carefully.
The City of Los Angeles alone covers about 469 square miles. Zoom out to Los Angeles County, and you’re looking at roughly 4,751 square miles. That’s larger than the entire state of Rhode Island (1,214 sq mi) and Delaware (2,489 sq mi) combined. It’s also significantly larger than the entire country of Luxembourg (998 sq mi). In other words: LA isn’t just a city. It’s a sprawling region pretending to be one place.
What that means practically? If you live in West LA, you’re not casually popping into Silver Lake on a Tuesday night. If you live in Pasadena, Venice might as well be another state. Sure, you’ll cross town for a birthday party, a special restaurant, or the occasional cultural pilgrimage, but doing it often is not for the faint of heart. It’s simply a lot of time, traffic, and mental energy when you can find a version of almost everything closer to home.
So when you’re choosing where to live, don’t just think about rent. Think about where you’ll get coffee, where you’ll work out, where you’ll meet friends, where you’ll grocery shop, where you’ll date, where you’ll walk your dog. Because that little ecosystem? That’s your real LA.
Microclimates in Los Angeles: Why Your Zip Code Matters
If you’re deciding where to live in LA, understanding microclimates is essential. The weather here changes dramatically depending on geography, and that impacts everything from comfort to utility bills.
Photo by @intl_eds
Near the coast…think Santa Monica or Venice…you get the benefit of cool ocean air. The marine layer keeps temperatures more moderate, even in summer. Nights cool down, and you might even need a light sweater in July. The trade-off? Higher rent.
Move inland toward Downtown and beyond, and that ocean effect fades. By the time you’re in the San Fernando Valley or farther east, the hills block much of the coastal breeze. Summers regularly hit triple digits, and if you live there, expect your AC to work overtime. Lower housing costs can quickly turn into higher summer electricity bills.
Foothill and canyon neighborhoods come with their own realities. When it rains, runoff can be stronger. During fire season, those areas are more exposed to brush fires. Beautiful? Yes. But not without risk.
And zooming out for a moment, Southern California is technically a semi-arid climate. It’s easy to forget because our neighborhoods look lush, but that greenery exists thanks to imported water.
Bottom line: in LA, weather isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your neighborhood choice affects how hot you’ll be, how much you’ll pay for cooling, and how much risk you’re comfortable with. Choose accordingly.
Common LA Names and How to Pronounce Them Like A Local
Photo by @tommaomaoer
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I was not exposed to as many Spanish names so a lot of the pronounciations alluded me and scared me! I actually got low-level anxiety when I had to pronounce a street name that I was unsure of how to pronounce. For example, Sepulveda Boulevard, I refused to say outloud as there was no comprehension in my brain as to how to say this word!! I just said, the “S street” and I would spell it out or point to the sign! Eventually, my kind roommate informed me how to pronounce it correctly and thus I’ve been doing it ever since!
Secondly, I tried to rebel and say “Wilshire” with the emphasis on the SHIRE part. Eventually, I did it the way people expected so that we can quickly communicate and move on to the next topic! So yes, I acclimated, for better or worse.
How to Pronounce Basic LA Names, for Beginners:
Sepulveda is pronounced Seh-PULL-vuh-duh (don’t say sep-uL-vay-da)
Cahuenga is pronounced "Co-EN-ga" or "Ca-WEN-ga"
Tujunga is pronounced "Tuh-HUN-gah"
Wilshire is pronounced "WILL-shur" not "Wil-SHY-er"
Duarte is pronounced "Du-AR-tay" instead of "DWOR-tee"
San Pedro is pronounced “San PEE-dro,” not “San Peh-dro”
The Unwritten Rules of Driving in Los Angeles - Basic Tips to Help Newcomers Navigate LA
Photo by @alexmeier19
Driving in LA is less about mastering the mechanics of the car and more about decoding the chaos. If you're new here, don't panic—everyone's faking it a little. But there are some survival strategies that make life on the road far less painful.
Understanding LA Traffic: It’s About Time, Not Miles
In LA, we don’t talk distance. We talk time. “How far is that?” usually gets answered with, “about 20 minutes with no traffic, 45 if it’s bad.” You could drive 10 miles in 15 minutes or sit in gridlock for 90 trying to move five blocks. Timing is everything.
Rush hour is a real beast. If you can avoid driving between 8–10 AM and 4–7 PM, LA traffic actually isn’t that bad. Many locals get around this by joining a gym near work, squeezing in a workout, and then hitting the road before or after the worst of it. Others build their schedule around off-peak hours altogether. If you can, live near your job or reverse commute—live where others work and work where others live—to stay ahead of the crush.
Two Cars for Every Red (Yes, Really)
One of the first things you’ll learn at LA intersections? The first two cars turning left on a red light are part of the local custom. Especially during rush hour, if you don’t go, people will absolutely honk at you, and honestly, they’re not wrong. That’s often the only way to make a left when traffic is constant. Fit it in! Be safe!
When I first moved here, I thought, “Wait... that can’t be legal?” But after a few weeks of watching everyone do it, I got it. Observe, learn, and join the local custom. Two cars per red. Respect.
And on the flip side, when your light turns green? Hesitate. Always. Assume those two red-light runners are still finishing their turn. The first few seconds of your green are not for you; they’re for them. It’s not optional, it’s survival. You’ll live longer that way.
Let’s talk intersections. It’s an LA rite of passage to hesitate on green because at least two cars are definitely still running that red light. This is not optional. Assume the first few seconds of your green light belong to the red-light runners finishing their left turns. You’ll live longer that way.
Merging Is Not a Democracy
Highway merging in LA is a full-contact sport. Using your turn signal is less a request and more of a real-time announcement because no one is slowing down to let you in. If you see a gap, take it. If you leave a car-length of space in front of you, someone will take it. That’s not rude here. That’s just physics.
Speed up to enter, and when lanes are narrowing, do the civilized thing and zipper merge like your life depends on it (because it kind of does).
Parking in LA: A Soul-Crushing Mini-Game
Let’s be honest: parking in LA is a sport of its own, and the rules are buried under a sea of signs—and subclauses—and blinking lights. Rule #1? Read the signs. Read them again. Then read them one more time. LA parking enforcement does not care if your blinkers are on and you were “just running in.” You are risking getting a ticket, beware!!
Plan to pay for parking…whether it’s a meter, a lot, or one of those unavoidable valet setups. And yes, you should go ahead and budget for at least two parking tickets per year. It’s basically a local rite of passage!!
If you don’t have off-street parking, get on top of your street sweeping notifications. The signs can be deceiving. In my neighborhood, it says sweeping is every week but in reality, it’s just the first and third weeks of the month, excluding holidays. I’ve seen entire streets empty out on off-weeks because people blindly obeyed the signs. Meanwhile, I cruise in, snag a prime spot, and sleep easy.
Are People Flaky in Los Angeles?
Short answer? Sometimes.
Long answer? Yes and no lol!
There’s definitely a reputation here. People cancel. People say “let’s do it!” and then vanish. People answer invites with “I’ll let you know closer to the date.” And yes—I’ll own it—I’ve done that too.
When I say “flaky,” I don’t mean malicious. I mean… flexible. If someone invites me out for Saturday night, I might respond with, “I was planning to do XYZ, but let me confirm closer to the day.” Is that non-committal? Absolutely. But here’s the thing: by Saturday, I might have already gone out three nights that week. Work might have been chaotic. Traffic might have drained my soul. And if I’m being honest, I don’t want to drive 30–45 minutes across town to show up half-hearted.
When I hang out with friends, I want to be present. I want to bring good energy. If I’m exhausted or burned out from navigating LA all week, I won’t. So I’ve learned to embrace what I call the joy of missing out. I protect my energy. And I’ve noticed a lot of Angelenos do the same.
Another big reason people seem flaky? LA is huge. Plans aren’t just about what you want, they’re about logistics.
If you’re already in Downtown LA for brunch, you’re probably going to stay in that zone for the rest of the day. It’s unlikely you’ll drive from DTLA to the beach and then back east again unless it’s something truly special. It’s possible…I’ve done it…but the ratio of driving time to actual fun time can get depressing fast.
Getting across town requires navigating traffic, planning parking , mentally prep for the drive to and fro…
Sometimes the trek itself makes an event feel rushed before it even starts. So people hedge. They wait to see how the day unfolds. They cluster plans geographically. And yes, sometimes they bail if it stops making sense.
There’s Also the “Endless Options” Effect. LA has so many people, events, pop-ups, dinners, concerts, launches, hikes, beach days…you name it. The possibilities are endless (one of the many reasons I love this city). That abundance can subtly shift how people think. If you miss one thing, there will be another. And another. And another.
It doesn’t always create urgency. It creates too many options!
And occasionally, yes, it creates social ladder climbing, especially if someone keeps asking what you do for work before they ask who you are. But that’s a smaller slice of the pie than people assume. Most flakiness isn’t strategic. It’s logistical and energetic.
Tips to Counteract Flakiness? Find Your Tribe!
Here’s the part no one tells you: once you establish real friendships, the flakiness drops significantly. One-on-one plans with close friends? Those tend to stick. When there’s rapport and shared history, people show up.
Where you’ll notice the most flexibility is in larger group hangs, newer connections, or events where no one feels fully anchored. That’s where “I’ll try to make it” lives. But if it’s gathering in a group, or with people you don’t know, people tend to stay flexible and non-commital. IMO, it’s not meant to be malicious, it’s just the way it is. And after you live here a while, you’ll slowly understand why!
About Linhda (aka Elle)
Linhda thrives on being a tourist in her own city, generously sharing over 10 years of Los Angeles knowledge with fellow enthusiasts!
An enthusiastic bike-to-work cyclist, also known as a commuter, Linhda has recently embraced the world of roller skating. If you have any questions about LA, drop her a line, or simply say HELLO! Meeting new people brings her immense joy. Cheers! linhdy@outlook.com
