<prompt> Human: I live in LA, been here 2.5 years. Im struggling. My income here has ranged from 0 a month to 2500 a month after taxes my latest job. Unfortunately my employment is not going well and it will be coming to a close soon. I started here sleeping in a bunk bed in a room shared with five other dudes when I was making 0, at a cost of 450 per month. When I got a dishwashing job I paid 590 to rent a shed in the back of some guys house. Now Im making 20hour of 2500 per month doing data entry, a job I loathe and suck at even more than dishwashing, and am paying 825 to live in a 200 square foot bachelor apartment off of a busy street in a terrible crack addicted neighborhood.People say I cant afford to live out here. However, I always am skeptical that living in some Middle American hamlet or a decayed factory town would be any better for me. How can I afford an 700 a month apartment making 10 bucks an hour, if that? Most low cost states also have low wages, bad weather higher utilities, and worse public services. One way I benefit from living in LA is by being able to slide by without health insurance by using lower income resources in the area. It is my understanding that in less developed regions big hospitals have a monopoly and there is less consumer choice.Thanks in advance, missamandajones  <response>: You need an in-demand skill. Your housing situation will pretty much always suck if your income is low. The best way to increase your income is to gain a valuable skill. 