What are the average living expenses in LA, Cali? And are there any art / film schools there?

OOOOO a research questions *grins* and a challenging one at that! This will take some time, if you don't mind I will start with the schools question.

I can tell you this. I lived in Glendale, a suburb of LA when I was in Nursing School and made it just fine, but I, also, lived in the nurse's dorm. Of course that was a few years back. LA if a diverse and very interesting place, but the commute and traffic is nasty! Still I loved my time there. LOTS to see and do! Quite exciting.

So I am off to research and will post my findings (no, peoples, I am not waiting to copy your answers ... I will be too busy researching ;) )

#4 There are several film schools in and near LA, you are close to Hollywood there *S* Here is list I compiled for you:

The American Film Institute

http://www.afionline.org./

Los Angeles Film School

http://lafilm.com/

David Kagen's School of Film

http://www.davidkagen.com/

University of California - Long Beach - Film and Electronic Arts

http://www.csulb.edu/depts/fea/

University of California - Los Angeles - School of Theatre, Film, and Television

http://www.filmtv.ucla.edu/

University of Southern California, School of Cinema

http://www-cntv.usc.edu/

#5 Both LA and New York are the best places to start.

#1&2: In the online version of the LA times http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/renta...

http://www.apartments.com/partner/Results.aspx?pag...

I found 1 bedroom rental running from $625 - $1350/mo in the surrounding communities of LA

Downtown studios from $550 - $1200/mo

Sorry, I could come up with and estimated cost of living for you but perhaps you will find this page helpful

http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html

It's been a while since I lived there, but I have many acquaintences who do. I believe you could get by with $800-$1000/month for a studio apt, plus utilities, $150 or so groceries, and public transportation (not very good service)for $100. If you own a car, at least $500. Some people say you can't exist in LA without a car, but I am living proof that you can. I had no car most of the 5 years I lived there, and had no problem at all.

I think you should look for some other place to re-locate unless you personally know someone there you can stay with. Your best bet would be to move in with another student, or look for a room for rent in someone's home. After you get to know the place better, you can branch out.

The other two ladies had very good advice but I'm going to throw in a bit more.

Okay, do you remember the conversation we had about conversions and whatnot? I told you that I paid $350 a month in rent but let's break it down some more...

First my husband has a decent job for this area and makes pretty good money. Right now he makes $14.25 an hour (about $450 a week after taxes). Okay so that's $1800 dollars a month. I'll break down our bills (per month) so that you can see what it amounts to here...

$1800 -

$450 truck payment

$350 rent

$50 water

$120 electricity

$26 gas (house)

$200 gas (car)

$200 food (average)

$200 phone and DSL

That leaves us $204 dollars which we save for his car inssurance which is $600 dollars every six month. That leaves us just a little to save.

Now consider a few things...California's rate of living is almost 3 times what it is here in Oklahmoma. A house like ours there would cost you at LEAST $800 to $1000 dollars a month in rent. On the up side there are two of us and only one of you. We choose to live comfortably and are lower middle class by the local standards. We have a few amenities that we can afford that make life better like DSL and a new truck but if you decide to go the cheaper routes you will save more money. Also, jobs out there pay much more than the ones do here...My older brother got a job at Arby's (fastfood) and they payed him $12 dollars starting wage. (A job like that here would make less than half that starting out.)

Summary:

In conclusion my point is that by your self, to survive in California you need to make around $1500 dollars a month to get by (to eat and have a place to stay), $2000 to do okay, $2500 to be quite comfortable (have a decent but not new car and maybe cable tv and DSL), and 3,000 to be able to be at the level we are. (We aren't rich but not poor either...A decent balance) Like YL said you can shave money to the bare minimum by using public transportation and getting a roommate (or getting a room in a boarding house first) but these are going to be the standards you are going to have to look for after that time when you want to live on your own or get an apartment. Eventually you will want more comfort and independence in your daily routine and hopefully I've given you an idea of what it'll cost.

Always remember thought that you will want to save as much money as you can...Try to save at least 10% of your income for the future. Trust me, some day you will need it.

You will have to sit through the following films Showgirls Battlefield Earth Alien v Predator Freddy v Jason

around 6.5k to about 10 million. good luck affording that