Having recently left LA, I would have to agree that pay in the low 20s is not enough. My one bedroom apartment there cost $650/month; that was considered low and was that cost only because I had a landlord who didn't raise the rent for years. There are places that have lower rent, but chances are you wouldn't want to walk the streets there even in broad daylight. I paid $145/month for car insurance on an 8 year old station wagon. Any bills such as electricity, natural gas, gasoline, etc. left very little to actually live on. I am still paying off credit card debts for food, car repair bills, etc. If you have car payments as well, hopefully you have some parents or a spouse who makes a living wage to support you. I worked in an institution that gave no compensation for overtime, but strongly encouraged overtime and dressing well. A second job was an alternative, but exhausting after working the first one and driving back and forth on the freeways. If I knew someone now who was considering a position in LA, I would tell that person not to accept anything less than $30,000.