What Students Pay to Live in Los Angeles

Rent Across a Spread-Out Campus Map

Los Angeles County holds dozens of colleges and universities, from UCLA in Westwood to USC near downtown to a wide network of Cal State and community college campuses, spread across a metro area that stretches more than 30 miles in any direction. The federal Fair Market Rent benchmark for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area sits at $2,085 a month for a one-bedroom and $2,601 for a two-bedroom, revised upward 11.6% for fiscal year 2026. (Novogradac)

That figure is a countywide benchmark, not a neighborhood number. Rent near UCLA in Westwood or USC's University Park runs above the county average, while units further out in the San Fernando Valley or South Bay generally cost less. Search current listings near your specific campus before setting a budget, since Los Angeles County covers dramatically different rental markets under one HUD area.

Why Owning a Car in LA Costs More Than Expected

Los Angeles has a reputation as a car city, and plenty of students bring one. The real cost of that choice runs higher than most people budget for. AAA's most recent annual driving cost report puts the average cost of owning and running a new vehicle at $11,577 a year, about $965 a month, covering depreciation, financing, insurance, maintenance, and fuel. (AAA) A used car costs less to own outright but still carries insurance, gas, and maintenance costs, plus Los Angeles has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country.

Parking adds another line item most students forget to budget. A UCLA commuter student parking permit costs about $324 a quarter, and a residence hall permit runs closer to $405 a quarter. (UCLA Transportation) A USC semester permit runs $405 to $585 depending on the lot, plus added city parking tax, with single-day rates around $20. (USC Transportation)

LA Metro: The Cheaper Alternative

LA Metro's base fare for a single bus or rail ride is $1.75, and the system automatically caps what you pay: no more than $5 in a single day and no more than $18 in a week, no matter how many rides you take. (LA Metro) At the weekly cap, a full month of daily transit costs around $72 to $80, a fraction of what a car costs once insurance, gas, and parking are added up.

Community college and K-12 students in the county can ride free through Metro's GoPass program. Many four-year schools run their own discounted transit programs on top of that: UCLA's Bruin U-Pass and Cal State LA's U-Pass both offer discounted or subsidized unlimited Metro access tied to enrollment, with pricing that varies by term. Check your specific school's transportation office for current U-Pass pricing and eligibility, since terms differ by campus.

Budgeting for LA

• Pick housing near a Metro rail line or a frequent bus route before you assume you need a car, especially near UCLA, USC, or a Cal State campus with an active U-Pass program.

• Split a two-bedroom or larger apartment with roommates. LA's rental market rewards sharing more than most cities, since single units run close to the one-bedroom benchmark on their own.

• If you do bring a car, budget parking as a separate line item from the car payment itself, since campus permits run several hundred dollars a term on top of everything else.

• Compare your school's published cost of attendance housing estimate against current listings in the specific neighborhood near your campus, not the countywide average.

Costs Beyond Rent and Transit

Most Los Angeles leases require a security deposit, often equal to one month's rent for a qualified renter, due before you move in. Utilities in Los Angeles apartments are frequently billed separately from rent, including electricity, gas, water, and trash, so ask for a typical monthly utility range from current tenants or the landlord before you finalize a budget.

Renters insurance is common practice in Los Angeles, particularly in larger apartment complexes near campus, and many leases require it as a condition of signing. Factor it into your move-in costs alongside the deposit and first month's rent.

Choosing a Neighborhood Near Your Campus

UCLA students cluster in Westwood Village, right next to campus, or in more affordable pockets of West LA a short bus ride away. USC students tend to live in University Park near campus or commute in from other neighborhoods connected by Metro rail. Cal State and community college students spread across a much wider area, since those campuses sit in different parts of the county rather than clustered downtown.

Whichever school you attend, look up the specific transit options between a potential apartment and your campus before you sign a lease. A short distance on a map can still mean a long commute in Los Angeles traffic if it does not sit on a direct bus or rail line.