Twenty years ago, around 2004, living in Cali wasn't as suffocating as it is now.

Back then, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was about $1,200, which was reasonable.

Now? The rent for a similar apartment starts at over $2,400. A newly built one-bedroom is typically around $3,000.

It's not just rent that's skyrocketing; gas prices are outrageous too. In 2004, a gallon of gasoline was about $3.30, and now it's at least $5.00.

In LA, where it's tough to live without a car, this is a significant blow.

And we can't ignore groceries. A gallon of milk was $2.50 in 2004, but now you have to pay $4.00.

Just going grocery shopping with $100 doesn't get you much these days.

Dining out? Twenty years ago, two people could enjoy a decent restaurant meal for about $40, but now the same menu easily exceeds $100.

Even fast food prices have gone up.

The problem is that this price increase isn't just about higher numbers.

Twenty years ago, you could cover all these costs with your salary.

But now, salary increases aren't keeping up with inflation.

So, the burden of living expenses has grown significantly.

In the past, if the breadwinner earned around $5,000 a month, they could live quite comfortably in LA...

Now, earning that much means you have to stretch every dollar and live frugally.

Moreover, in LA, not only housing costs but also utilities like electricity and internet have skyrocketed, making everything expensive.

Even people who have lived in LA for a long time are surprised, saying, "It wasn't like this before."

In conclusion, LA from 20 years ago and LA today are completely different cities.

In 2004, you thought, "Oh, this is livable," but now you find yourself wondering, "How can I keep living here?"

Yet, not everyone can just leave, so people are struggling to get by.

So, if you plan to live in LA, you really need to prepare a lot of money.

Coming with the thought, "This should be enough?" will leave you shocked.