Here's Why Los Angeles is a Great Place to Live and Work

Los Angeles. The City of Angels. City of Dreams. City where anything and everything seems (and pretty much is) possible. And it might just be the city calling your name.

LA isn’t just the bucket-list destination for visitors from around the globe—it’s the place that a majority of residents just can’t see themselves giving up anytime soon. And for good reason too.

Here are just a few of the reasons why Los Angeles has been and continues to be a great place to live and work.

Cost of living

While Los Angeles and Southern California seem to be pretty expensive on the cost-of-living front, LA actually offers more affordable housing than some of the other top metropolitan areas like New York and San Francisco. And most Angelenos can justify paying the still high prices by balancing their living costs with the thriving social and professional opportunities abounding around every corner. You can check out the cost of living list for common items here.

Trendy living

Urban. Suburban. Metropolitan. Mountainous living. It all comes together in the 4,751 sq. miles that make up Los Angeles County. And within that space (and among the more than 18 million residents) is one of the biggest scenes of cultural diversity you’ll probably ever see. The cultural melting pot is replete with people hailing from 180 countries around the globe (and speaking 140 languages!), making LA and all its cultural enclaves the place to be for those who have a bit of wanderlust and want to experience cultural living every now and then.

Maybe it’s the beaches. Maybe it’s the perpetual sunshine. Maybe it’s the startup vibe. But LA folks tend to have an attitude that can only be described as chill, and their typically casual dress might come as a culture shock to some. But just because Angelenos feel totally comfortable spending the majority of their off-time in athleisure styles doesn’t mean they don’t care about fashion. In fact, LA happens to be the fifth fashion capital of the world. And clothing aside, it’s also full of classy things to do for foodies, theater-goers, the musically-inclined, and everyone in between.

Healthy living

Gyms and boutique fitness brands seem to be popping up on every corner. Crossfit? Yoga? Aerial yoga? Yes, please. The latest, trending juice bar or wellness fixes? Healthy living and biohacking are trending in this town, and paleo, vegan, and gluten-free are more than just a fad—they’re a way of being. Health and fitness lovers will find their home here. And with nearly 300 days of sun shining down on the city, it’s an outdoor lovers dream.

Activities and benefits

Mountains, deserts, beaches are all just a short drive away, and you can literally spend your weekend hopping between ecosystems and climates for the ultimate outside adventure.

Los Angeles is also the capital of the entertainment world. So if you’ve got illusions of hitting the big screen or the stage, there are plenty of ways to get started in your off-time (or hey, you can even work toward it full-time if that’s your passion). LA isn’t just the City of Angels. It’s a city for dreamers, hard workers and every person in between. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

And while LA certainly has challenges like how to beat homelessness and how to fight crime, there are many neighborhoods that can meet any of your living needs. Good schools? Check out Manhattan Beach. Good place to raise a family? Glendale. Vibrant social scene? Silver Lake. Still-affordable housing? Monrovia. Safety? Beverly Hills, Palms, Mar Vista or Miracle Mile can be good choices.

Jobs and job outlook

Over the last few years, LA’s tech scene has really exploded. And for entrepreneurs craving the innovative, startup-friendly scene without the rising costs of cities in Nor Cal, Los Angeles offers all the benefits of a thriving startup environment, with all the benefits of sunny So Cal’s seemingly endless summers.

Los Angeles has become the third largest startup hub in the world. And with more startups and more innovators comes new (and more!) job opportunities both at new and established businesses.

For those attracted to the glimmer and glam of fame and stardom, Los Angeles (and Hollywood) offers a mecca for filmmakers, animators, writers and all manner of creatives.

And for Millennials trying to get their foot in the professional door and achieve their highest pay potential and balanced quality of life (and social life) with career development, Los Angeles is one of the top spots to be. In fact, early this year, Los Angeles County saw 7,200 new jobs open up. And surrounding regions of Orange County and the Inland Empire increased payrolls significantly.

Ready to see what opportunities LA might hold for you? Check out our job listings here. You might just find that Los Angeles holds the key to unlocking your own multicultural city of dreams.