I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. I knew the coasts would be different, but some things really surprised me.
Ariana DiValentino
- After growing up on the East Coast and living in New York City for years, I moved to Los Angeles.
- Some things were easy to adjust to, like the climate and the differences in public transportation.
I grew up in New Britain, Connecticut, and when I was 18, I fulfilled my dream of moving to New York City for college. I ended up staying for three more years after school, and I still think it's the most incredible place in the world.
However, I felt like I needed a change. Things were growing a bit stagnant in my life, so I packed up and moved to Los Angeles in hopes of finding work in the film industry.
Moving across the country is expensive — it costs thousands of dollars for professional movers alone — and I knew I was taking a risk. But I was also excited about the new adventure.
As a lifelong East Coaster, here are the things that surprised me the most about moving to California.
I adjusted to the climate more quickly than I expected.
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.
Having spent my entire adulthood in New York City (where it's pretty rare to own a car), I was prepared for some difficulty adjusting to LA (where living without one is apparently unheard of).
Lots of people told me that it couldn't be done, that public transit in California wasn't very good, and that I'd have to spend a fortune on rideshare apps.
However, getting around has been pretty easy.
Although I'm used to the well-established and expansive public transit available in NYC, LA's bus and train system is actually super helpful. It even has some advantages over New York — the trains, though they don't cover as much ground, are generally on time and clean.
When I can't take the train, rideshares get me farther for less money than they did in New York.
Long-distance travel is the norm here.
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.
New York has a world-class restaurant scene, where chefs are doing some of the most interesting things out of any culinary city in the world. But California has the natural advantage of delicious, fresh ingredients.
It seems like so many vegetables and fruits grow here, and the amazing produce enhances the food in restaurants and grocery stores exponentially.
In New York, I felt like I had to be extra eagle-eyed when buying produce, but I hardly come across sad, pinkish tomatoes or tragically unripe avocados in Los Angeles.
That said, there are a handful of things I just can't seem to find in California. Specifically, big, cheap portions of takeout (especially Chinese food) and a decent bagel.
For me, finding an apartment in LA was so much easier.
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.
Growing up in Connecticut and living in New York as an adult, I was always confused when my friends who grew up on the West Coast would ask me to pick up a bottle of wine from the grocery store.
Most East Coast states have laws that wine and liquor can only be purchased at designated, licensed stores.
In California, however, I can pick up wine and liquor while shopping for groceries. It's a small difference, but it was a little jarring when I first arrived.
Overall, things seem to be more chill in California.
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.
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