Before you toss everything in a trunk and drive to the nearest city that seems to make sense for your aspirations, here's a list of considerations and ways you can prep so you're well equipped for the road ahead.

First, as a bare minimum you should have $2,000 in savings. Most apartments will ask for first and last month's rent and often a safety deposit on top of that amount. The $2,000 won't fully cover that in most instances, so if you can double or triple that amount in savings before you reach your new city, you'll be much better off.

Realistically you're going to need a day job or some kind of income while you settle into your new space. If you can start working for a national or international company in your current city and transfer within that company to the new city you'll save a lot of time, effort, and money. This may enable you to maintain health coverage without interruption, and some employers will even cover your moving costs to a new city in part or in full. It also helps to have a track record of working for the same company for a long stretch even if you worked at various locations. Despite LA and other big media cities being largely project based when it comes to creative work, most employers still prefer someone who doesn't hop from job to job.

Job Sites:

EntertainmentCareers.net (free or subscription - subscriptions sees the updates first)

LinkedIn.com (free or Premium)

ZipRecruiter.com (free)

TheTrackingBoard.com (subscription based)

Once you have some savings and some transferable work in place, consider every way that you can give yourself margin and some solid backup plans in case you're not able to find good opportunities right away. If you're young enough to remain on your parent's health insurance, investigate what you may need to do to stay on as long as possible, including student/school situations. (Don't have any health insurance presently? Take a look at CoveredCA.com.) It's also a good idea to have some certifications that help you find a job in any market (such as accounting, paralegal work, coding, etc.). Take the time in advance to look through the job listings in the city you're aiming at for relocation and also look at job listings in the city you're in. Can you gain some helpful job experience where you are that may make you a more attractive job candidate in a larger city? Especially in creative cities (Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, etc.) there's often a shortage of the left brain types who can manage bookkeeping and more detailed tasks. If you develop these skills in ways that are visible on your resume before you arrive, you'll be much better off.

It's also helpful to find groups on Facebook, MeetUp, VolunteerMatch and other sites that may list communities of personal interest to you. Do you enjoy running and jogging? Are you a wine aficionado? Do you love teaching songwriting or piano playing to underserved youth? Think beyond your creative talents and the basics on your resume. You'll need new contacts and some local pals to settle in to your new region, so consider which hiking groups on Active.com or which event groups may resonate with you. There's a group called Brits in LA for those of British descent (britsinla.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html, and they keep company with those who simply enjoy the British regions and lifestyle, also). Groups like these not only offer fun events and camaraderie, but also discounts for travel and local restaurants.

WestSideRentals.com used to be the most respected website when it comes to housing in LA, and CraigsList.org is naturally often used, as well. WSR is subscription based, but some apartments also let that subscription fee cover some or all of their application fee. Brits in LA also has a special Facebook group for housing sought and offered, though it tends to be short term rentals and sublets or rooms for let and shared houses. Padmapper.com lets you look at housing from multiple websites on one map so you can easily scan the areas most relevant to you. Local college newspapers such as dailybruin.com/classifieds also offer listings, but keep in mind they may be surrounded by loud college parties. CraigsList is often used to hunt for jobs, short term projects, and objects for sale, but naturally all listings should be carefully checked for scams, and you should meet any individuals in a public place and/or with a friend, lest you become one of these stories: CBSnews.com/pictures/5-craigslist-crimes-that-will-creep-you-out/

Currently, it's common for a one bedroom one bathroom apartment in a safe neighborhood to run between $1100-1500 in Los Angeles. A 2BR/2BA tends to run between $1700-2200. A list of safer vs. sketchier areas of the city is below after the links for various performer types. 

Air conditioning is surprisingly rare in this desert town, so if it's important to you (as it is to most) be sure the apartment you choose has more than just a window unit in a main room (if it has any AC at all). The summers here are getting worse and worse, often staying in the 90s and 100s for many months (from about April to October), so don't skimp on this unless you're a fan of visits to the ER for heat stroke. Alternately, buy yourself a portable AC unit and a space heater for the winter while you're at it (as most apartments also don't have much to offer in the way of heat).

Another thing to note: fewer and fewer apartments come with refrigerators or dishwashers. Also, many local cleaning companies won't wash dishes, but will only load your dishwasher - which is a bit of a non-starter if you don't have one. Be sure to ask if your apartment has these in advance, and - if not - consider purchasing a portable dishwasher and a fridge of your choosing before you move in. Even if there was a fridge in the unit during your tour of the facility, that doesn't guarantee it will stay in the apartment for your move in, so take the time to ask.

When it comes to food and groceries, a few apps and sites you'll want to bookmark include:

Postmates.com (food delivery using an Uber/Lyft like tracking; it can also be used to deliver some urgent travel goods like phone chargers, jackets, and first aid needs)

Eat24.com (food delivery and menus for local restaurants)

OrderAheadApp.com (food delivery)

Instacart.com (grocery delivery)

Yummy.com (grocery delivery)

If you're curious about any difference in grocery pricing, create your usual grocery list in the shopping cart on Yummy or Instacart and see what your total would be in Los Angeles. These are roughly the same as in-store purchases.

When it comes to finding affordable plays and shows, Goldstar.com is often better than many of the alternatives.

Speaking of Lyft.com and Uber.com, even if you bring a car with you it'll be advantageous to use these frequently for mixers and other events in areas with minimal (or outrageously expensive) parking. There are buses and a metro rail (metro.net) in Los Angeles, but it's nowhere near as reliable or convenient as the subways in New York, London, Chicago, Washington D.C., or Paris. Outer areas of Greater Los Angeles have some free parking, but in Hollywood and areas frequented by tourists it's common for parking to cost $15-30, especially at hotels and hot night spots. (Despite the fact that we're heading into 2016, some of these lots will still only take cash, so you can't rely on a debit card unless you're willing to walk a mile or two to the nearest ATM in your dress shoes.) If a Lyft ride is $10 or so each way, you can easily save 1/3 the cost (and the time circling looking for a space or a valet who's not busy). Of course, you may also want a glass of wine or a beer or two...

If you are bringing a car, Los Angeles requires you to get a California driving license within 10 days of your arrival if you are becoming a resident (dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/dl/dl_info). Whether or not you have a local job and what date you may start it has no bearing on this timing. "Visitors" can continue to use their out of state license until it expires. If your car is older than four years old but not yet vintage, it will also need a smog check (dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/smog). All total, the license, registration, and smog check will run somewhere between ~$250-400, so consider this in your savings and expenses before you arrive.

On driving, if something is just down the street allow yourself 30 minutes to drive there. If it's on the other side of the 405, give yourself at least an hour. Add 10-20 minutes to any travel time estimates from Waze or GoogleMaps; remember, you'll have to find parking and the tiny little screening room for your event out of the 20 on site, too. Keep an eye out for street cleaning signs, and know that in the areas where a latte costs $6 (such as Beverly Hills or Larchmont), the parking meter maids are vultures. 

Many services will cost half as much in your current location. Due for a haircut? Need new headshots? Time for your annual physical or eye exam? Get as many of these items and tasks squared away in your current city as possible. A basic haircut in LA runs between $80-100. (Want coloring or highlights? Here it's another $200-300 without tip, so you'll easily save $100 or more by doing it in Louisville or elsewhere.) When possible, it's also good to take care of these chores during your visits home or to smaller cities.

As you can see the costs add up quite quickly. With these additional costs in mind, if you're interviewing for work before arrival fight for as much annual or monthly pay as you can in advance. $30,000 a year in Louisville could actually cover your living costs; in Los Angeles as of 2015, you'll want to aim for $45,000 as a baseline to cover rent, food, and the basics. If you're not making at least that much now, revisit the section above on popular job skills and sites to see how you can drive up your income value. Remember that the hiring process is a negotiation; there's no harm in asking for more than they initially offer. 

It's also wise to conquer some expenses that will remain the same, but be much easier to manage when you're only paying $800-1000 in rent instead of something closer to $2000 a month. For instance, it's a good idea to grab a new or renewed passport before your arrival. Many companies in Los Angeles have international branches, and it's not uncommon even in your first year to be asked to fly out to Toronto, London, Vancouver, or other common media business cities. Granted, for Canadian and Mexican locales a passport card for $30 will suffice, but since a passport book is good for all areas, why not pay the $110 one time to get the ID that trumps them all? (pptform.state.gov) As a bonus, you can apply for your passport at most local libraries, so the additional $25 facility processing fee can benefit a good cause. Passport photos typically run $10-12, and are available at the library as well as most printing shops, such as Kinko's. It's also worth noting that in 2016 some driver's licenses will no longer be accepted even for domestic flights: The Real ID program and what it means for travelers in 2016.

The other great thing about passports is that they trump other forms of ID for hiring, so instead of bringing in your social security card, state-issued birth certificate (not the one with your paw prints on it), and/or driver's license for job hiring paperwork, you can just use your (non-expired) passport. It's also much handier for flashing ID for travel and bouncers, and - unlike your driver's license - it doesn't advertise your home address to strangers in doing so. It's also a good idea to make sure you have a copy of said SSN card and official birth certificate before you arrive in LA; many landlords are now requiring that you bring your SSN card to lease signing as a means to stave off renting to illegal immigrants (and they request this even if your form of ID is a passport). Ordering these may be faster or cheaper in your home state if you don't have copies already or they've been misplaced.

A few other "same cost, but easier when you live somewhere cheaper" costs to consider paying in advance include:
NARAS/Recording Academy membership for musicians (see link below in musician section - often around $100)

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media / See Jane membership: seejane.org/membership

Active for runners/joggers/fitness peeps (good to save money on races and fitness classes if you attend more than a few a year):

NARIP -  You don't have to be a member to attend their brunch mixers and music panels with industry pros, but members do save 50% off events and gain access to videos of past workshops. Membership is typically $10 a month or $100 a year.) narip.com/external/static/2014-NARIP-Membership-Brochure.pdf

Your Kroger card will work at Ralphs grocery stores locally, and your CVS and Rite Aid/Plenti discount cards will also naturally work locally.

Where wardrobe is concerned, most offices here dress business casual. Summers are VERY hot, and desert evenings are very breezy and cool. We're finally in the 40s now, but we had temperatures in the 90s as recently as October. Santa Ana winds will make you want winter coats on hand, so don't just pack your beach clothes and a few light jackets. Layers are the way to go on this front. Red carpet events are common even for assistants, so make sure you have at least a few suits and/or cocktail dresses and awards attire on hand before you move.

These are the most visible sites to post your resume, headshots, and reels. Most offer a free or low-cost basic version for beginners. Some will let you search and submit for auditions, others will offer a space for your reps to submit on your behalf. Familiarize yourselves with them and have your info listed in at least one, if not the top three. Cazt focuses a bit more on indie projects, and the Voice Registry is primarily for voiceover talent. If you're a gal in the biz, check out msinthebiz.com, which hosts mixers. To meet some local screenwriters and actors, check out DeadlineJunkies.com.

If you're an American citizen (with a SSN), sign up with one of these performing rights organizations as an artist for free. (If you were born elsewhere or have not been given a US SSN, sign up with the PRO in your territory, such as SOCAN or PRS.) In addition to registering any songs you write and tracking them for royalties for broadcast etc., these PROs will also host events for artists and conferences where you can fine tune your trade. 

NARIP.com also hosts events in numerous cities with small music scenes, including Los Angeles (if a big music scene is what you're seeking, see Nashville or Seattle; LA is primarily a pay-to-play town). The Recording Academy/NARAS is also based in Los Angeles; there aren't many local chapter meetings or mixers, but once a year there are some pre-awards parties that can be interesting when all the great musicians that live elsewhere drop into LA. Many independent musicians qualify for membership but aren't aware of their eligibility. If you've released any music commercially on iTunes/Amazon/etc., even as a session musician or vocalist, check out GrammyPro.com/Join. There are student memberships as well as full voting memberships.

Best areas for apartments and jobs:

Burbank

Culver City

Glendale

Hollywood

Sherman Oaks

Studio City

West Hollywood (especially great for joggers; it's mostly populated by gay guys, so it's the one area in LA where you won't receive street harassment)

Areas to avoid due to crime or high pricing (or both):

Areas around USC

Beverly Hills

Downtown LA

Koreatown

Malibu

Santa Monica

Outer areas that are sometimes cheaper but also offer a long commute:

Downey

Encino

Pasadena

South Pasadena

Van Nuys

Drop us a line at Voiceover@... if you have any questions not addressed here, and we'll either update this article or reply individually.

@NatalieNicole - Casting Louisville Owner & Primary Moderator

Los Angeles resident for 10 years