economie

I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. I knew the coasts would be different, but some things really surprised me.

November 1, 20240
I reach for a sweater when the temperature dips below 60 degrees.

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Coming from the Northeast, with its bitter winters and humid summers, it’s been pretty amusing to witness Southern California’s version of seasons.

I can’t help chuckling when I see people bundled up in Arctic-strength parkas when it’s 65 degrees.

That said, I acclimated much faster than I thought I would. After just a couple of weeks of being spoiled by sunny days above 70 degrees, I started feeling chilly when the temperature dropped in the evenings.

Now, I grab a light jacket anytime the temperature might dip into the 50s. In New York, if it got into the 50s in the spring, I’d be taking off my coat.

I thought not having a car would be a problem, but it’s actually been easy.
Malibu is about an hour from LA by car.

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All of the places I’d seen Angelenos visit in movies and on TV — Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe — are way farther from the city than I imagined.

On the East Coast, a two- or three-hour drive was a big ordeal reserved for special occasions.

In LA, though, people are willing to drive three to five hours for a spontaneous weekend trip. An hour-long drive to Malibu for a beach day is also common.

The food is equally delicious, but totally different, in LA.
It was easy to get an apartment in LA.

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In New York, the process of hunting for and securing real estate is notoriously head-spinning. You generally need to have a lot of financial documentation (sometimes a letter of recommendation from a former landlord) and a cashier’s check ready fast — or else someone else will probably snap your place up.

If your yearly salary isn’t at least 40 times a month’s rent, you also may need a guarantor to sign on with you.

In Los Angeles, I visited two apartments, picked the second one I saw, and the property manager told me there was “no rush” in getting him my deposit.

I couldn’t believe it.

Additionally, the approval process was much less rigorous. My years of apartment hunting in New York prepared me for a much more intense and complicated process than I actually had to deal with here.

I think LA has a more laid-back attitude toward drinking and drugs.
I like living in LA, but I still miss New York sometimes.

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As far as I can tell, it’s not just a stereotype — people seem to be more relaxed in LA.

I’ve noticed that many people take longer lunches, everyone seems to love getting outside, and (despite the traffic) I’ve noticed much less road rage than in NYC.

I miss the pace of life in New York and the to-the-point attitude of East Coasters. I’m getting better at having friendly conversations with chatty strangers, but sometimes, I miss the public solitude I was used to.

I also miss how New Yorkers always seemed to bond by complaining — my candidness doesn’t seem as welcome in LA.

Deep down, I’m still very much an East Coaster at heart. But so far, I’m loving the sunshine, the fresh avocados, and the overall relaxed vibe of the West Coast.

This story was originally published in March 2020 and most recently updated on November 1, 2024.