<prompt> Human: Hi there rpersonalfinanceI recently graduated and landed a great opportunity in LA. Although its a entry position with room for growth in the future, I am concerned with the high cost of living in LA and want to make sure I make as little mistakes as possible along the way.I am going to begin searching for a place to live and have a good friend joining me. Preferably we want just a place between myself and him in an area within reasonable commute to LAhollywood. Im actually currently en route to LA and will be staying with someone until I find a reasonable place.My current monthly financial obligations is a car note at 230, a cell note for 100, and auto insurance also 100. I currently have 6K saved up.Not entirely sure if it matters, but my credit line and credit score are currently very high.Really excited to get started in this new city and looking forward to any advice tips I can get to stay out of financial scarcity.  <response>: I lived in LA for almost two years before moving abroad for a job. In those two years, I didnt meet a single person who didnt have at least one but usually 3 roommates. The only way they could afford to live alone was if their parents were subsidizing them.Many lived in the valley with their parents, but in the end, much of what they saved went to gas and transportation to and from the valley to work.Traffic will eat at your soul, so as uTryton said, stick to the metro. Buses are a nightmare I moved to LA not knowing how to drive - had to take 2 buses which totaled an hour and a half of walkingbusing, just to get to work about 8 miles away. The metro, however, is pretty inconveniently located for certain areas. For me at least, I would have to drive to the metro, park my car for the day, take the metro, then walk to work. Not worth it - Id rather do the traffic. Audiobooks are your friend.Be wary of picking cheaper, yet dirtier areas. Just anecdotal, but I had a friend who lived in Koreatown for cheap. While she loved Koreatown as a place great food, atmosphere, shops, bars, loved Korean culture, etc, she ended up getting _infested_ with bed bugs. Had to do a lot of fighting to get some of what she paid back in extermination fees, had to get rid of a good chunk of her furniture, getting out of her lease, etc.Point is, be wise and flexible, and LA will treat you well. Budget wisely, especially eating out as that can easily get out of hand in LA, and you shouldnt have a problem if you have a reliable income, and more importantly, reliable roommates. 