Los Angeles is an exciting first place to start as a freelance digital nomad. The lure of a major West Coast American city draws people from around the world. This international hub can be fast-paced and business-oriented, yet still offer a relaxing, creative atmosphere.
It does take a lot of knowledge and experience to know what it takes to be a digital nomad out here. This guide covers what digital nomads need to know about living in Los Angeles.
What Daily Life as a Digital Nomad in Los Angeles Feels Like
WiFi and Workspaces
I personally recommend cafes and coworking spaces. The stereotypical LA digital nomad and remote worker in a cafe, enjoying a specialty beverage while working on a large project.
Most digital nomads can get by working in the many, many, many local cafes. The strong coffee culture and digital nomad workforce mean that some places might be packed all day. Top coworking spaces are spread across the city’s neighborhoods if you want a change of pace or need a quieter place to run team meetings or speak with management.
For West LA, I suggest Verve Coffee Roasters. It’s one of the top nomad working spaces in the city. It’s very upscale, with plenty of light and seating. The coffee is also pretty good. It’s also down the street from the popular shopping area known as the Grove, where you can enjoy a tasty bite during your lunch break.
My personal favorite cafe, though, is Blueys Kitchen in Santa Monica. The place has a low-key surfer-beach vibe. It has enough outdoor seating to enjoy the breeze from the nearby ocean, and it has some tasty breakfast sandwiches. Never too crowded, so you can hear yourself think. I’ve used it several times when I wanted to go take a break at the beach afterward.
For coworking spaces, I’d choose Ethos Society in Koreatown. It has an affordable day pass with some lovely panoramic city views. You will also find it less corporate and filled with other creatives and independents who are friendly to chat with and may even do some idea swaps.
WeWork is a flexible workspace in the heart of Santa Monica. Clean and friendly, with wonderful hosts to help you meet your needs. It’s a short walk to the Third Street Promenade and the famous Santa Monica Pier for dining and shopping needs.
The WiFi in apartments and public places can sometimes be spotty. It’s best to have your own hotspot as a backup in case of any issues. I’ve lost connectivity when I am out using public internet instead of a private line. It can also be a provider issue, since companies in LA like Spectrum are the main providers.
The city does support focused work. You can almost always find the right spot within 5 miles or less of your location. Just keep things flexible if you have to move between multiple spaces in a day.
Los Angeles Cost of Living
Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities to live in. When using tools to compare cities’ cost of living, you will see how big the gap can be. Your estimated budget should be between $2,500 and $3,500 a month for a budget-friendly but comfortable lifestyle. Fitness, entertainment, and extras are reasonably priced here most of the time. Affordable street food and restaurants are everywhere if you don’t feel like cooking at home, and there are plenty of local grocery stores for a night in. But rent will always be the biggest expense in your budget while you’re here.
Hostels, Hotels, and Airbnbs
Housing here is just way too expensive these days. As a digital nomad, most of your money will go to accommodations in Los Angeles. Plenty of hostels and low-cost hotels cost $60-80/night, but they’re often very popular and smaller because they are in prime locations. You can find $150-300/night depending on the quality of the accommodation.
If you want more of a backpacker vibe in Hollywood, with nearby attractions like Universal Studios and the Walk of Fame, go to Samesun. Or if you’d rather spend all your free time at the beach, book your stay at HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel. If you prefer quiet nights in or want a more local feel, there are also some reasonable Airbnbs, depending on the time of year.
Outside of Los Angeles, the cost for quality is much better, and your monthly budget will stretch much farther. I had the benefit of friends and family here, where I could stay on the couch or use a guest room for a night. This greatly increased my savings.
Staying in Los Angeles isn’t a long-term option because of the high cost of living. As a digital nomad, you should stay for at least one month and no more than three. That’s really all the time you need to truly enjoy the city. Have some extra fun exploring with day trips outside of Los Angeles. Then you can move on to your next destination. If you are considering a longer-term move
Walkability, Transportation, and Getting Around
If you’re staying close to the city or in a fairly walkable neighborhood, you’ll only need public transportation, the metro rail, and rideshare services to get around. Once you go farther out, you’ll need your own car.
The best neighborhoods that are easy to walk in and need a vehicle very little are Downtown LA, Santa Monica, Hollywood, West LA, and Culver City. If you stay in the city, the LA Metro will be your best option for public transport.
You can plan weekend trips in Los Angeles around the California train system. You can take nice weekend trips north to Santa Barbara and south to San Diego. If you need to just get out of the city, you can easily rent a car for a few days.
Life Outside of Work
You have to take advantage of what the city offers while also finding the balance to get your work done. Most digital nomads come here to enjoy the ocean breeze and sunny West Coast beaches. It’s really the biggest selling point of living here. Once you have picked a neighborhood, learn about local attractions, enjoy the city’s plentiful food scene, and discover the captivating nightlife.
Being in the beach parts of the neighborhood in LA will help you recharge. The whole vibe is relaxing and low-key, letting you enjoy the sunny weather without a care in the world.
You can find a decent work-life balance while staying in Los Angeles. But sometimes it can feel more work than life because of the cost of living, especially with the previously discussed cost of accommodations. But when you want to splurge on something special, decide what you are willing to pay for and what to pass on. Instead of a top-tier dining establishment, you might choose a less expensive musical performance or comedy show instead. Visit a museum or art gallery that offers free entry on certain dates. Plan to enjoy yourself as much as possible.
Los Angeles Community
It can be very difficult to meet people here when you first arrive. Over time, it can feel almost isolating. Once you reach a certain age, it’s hard to join a new group, as most people tend to stay within their own social circles and geographical bubble. Trends change in how best to approach new people, especially with online dating and finding new friends in a big city.
Most of the strong connections you develop will be from many local organizations focused on bringing together new arrivals. You have Meetup groups, adult sports organizations, and digital nomad FB groups to help ease the transition and give you something to look forward to. I can personally vouch for Club Waka Kickball as a great place to start for meeting people.
Los Angeles can be both welcoming one minute and very closed off the next. You can get this feeling from the type of neighborhood you are in. As an international hub, new people come and go year-round. So it comes with the territory that you will always meet a new face and have a new worthwhile experience.
I didn’t feel like I belonged here because my lifestyle choices and mentality don’t reflect the typical LA person. But I still enjoyed myself immensely.
Health Care, Safety, and Feeling Comfortable
Los Angeles is generally safe for digital nomads. You will feel pretty safe in your routines. Like any visitor, be thoughtful of your surroundings in a major city. Stay in well-lit areas and populated streets at night. Watch where you are going, don’t do things you are uncomfortable with, and research locations before you go.
Some neighborhoods are better than others because they are cleaner, have more modern buildings, or have a smaller unhoused population. Others have unhoused camps in certain areas and very unreliable safety measures, such as Skid Row and parts of South Los Angeles.
Healthcare here is pretty good. In any urban city, you can access healthcare and prescriptions through several major public hospitals, local pharmacies, clinics, and community health centers. If you have special needs or requirements, research locations that work for you in the neighborhood where you’re staying. Check whether your out-of-state medical coverage applies here, or look into travel insurance to cover your basic needs.
Is Los Angeles Right for You?
Who Los Angeles is a Great Fit For
Many types of digital nomads have found Los Angeles to be a great fit for their needs and interests. Content creators, influencers, photographers, writers, and designers across fashion, social media, marketing, entertainment, lifestyle, and food love this city and enjoy networking with different communities.
You can find both ends of the work spectrum here in Los Angeles. Those with A-type personalities and work styles will find they fit pretty well here. Those who want to do the bare minimum- a few hours of focused work to pay digital nomad bills and then enjoy the freedom the rest of the time will do just as well.
Who Los Angeles Might Not Be Right For
Those just starting out as a digital nomad without employment and an already established income will find it difficult here. You’ll face a competitive job market and many ambitious individuals trying to break into the digital nomad world. If you are already employed as a freelancer or contractor, make sure you are not stuck doing low-paying entry-level work. You won’t be able to keep up with costs and will burn through your monthly budget quickly.
Traffic is the biggest downside and can eat up a lot of your day commuting if you’re trying to get to specific locations. High costs are also a downside if you’d rather enjoy the LA luxury of staying here. Digital nomads who want a highly walkable city will not find this to their liking.
Check your bank account and make sure you have enough to live in Los Angeles for your planned stay, plus an emergency fund for unexpected expenses. Also, confirm your employment or project contract before you arrive and move in. Create a planned itinerary for how you want the next few months to go. Reach out to local groups and other digital nomads online with any questions you want answered to help you prepare.
Conclusion
I would choose this city again to visit friends and family who have stayed here. It would also need to be while I was employed, either with a local temporary position or a remote position, to accommodate the costs.
Nomad life can be both very exciting and very lonely. It has its highs and lows. Most people like to put down roots and build a foundation of friends and family. This type of life isn’t for many, so meeting others can really shape your view. Outside the U.S., nomad life is a small minority but steadily growing because of both rising costs of living and politics. Making it not a choice for some people but a necessity.