Los Angeles

// Navigate Los Angeles as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or creative with neighborhoods, transport, costs, safety, and local insights.

$ git log --oneline --stat

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forks:367

updated:March 4, 2026

SKILL.mdreadonly

SKILL.md Frontmatter

nameLos Angeles

sluglos-angeles

version1.0.1

changelogMinor refinements for consistency

descriptionNavigate Los Angeles as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or creative with neighborhoods, transport, costs, safety, and local insights.

metadata[object Object]

When to Use

User asks about Los Angeles for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or pursuing entertainment/creative careers. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	`visitor-attractions.md`
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	`visitor-itineraries.md`
Where to stay	`visitor-lodging.md`
Tips & day trips	`visitor-tips.md`
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	`neighborhoods-index.md`
Westside (Santa Monica, Venice, etc.)	`neighborhoods-westside.md`
Hollywood/Central	`neighborhoods-central.md`
South Bay	`neighborhoods-southbay.md`
Valley	`neighborhoods-valley.md`
East/Northeast	`neighborhoods-east.md`
Food
Overview & what makes LA special	`food-overview.md`
Local specialties	`food-local.md`
By area	`food-areas.md`
Practical (apps, grocery, dietary)	`food-practical.md`
Practical
Moving & settling	`resident.md`
Transport (car culture reality)	`transport.md`
Cost of living	`cost.md`
Safety	`safety.md`
Weather & microclimates	`climate.md`
Local services	`local.md`
Career
Tech industry (Silicon Beach)	`tech.md`
Entertainment industry	`entertainment.md`
Students	`student.md`
Startups	`startup.md`

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, creative/entertainment
Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Car Reality is Critical

LA is a car city. Period.

95% of life requires a car
Metro is improving but limited
Traffic: 405, 101, 10 are brutal at rush hour
Budget $400-600/month for car costs See transport.md for survival guide.

3. Weather Microclimates

Myth	Reality
"Always sunny"	Coastal = June Gloom (May-July fog)
"Same weather everywhere"	Valley is 10-15°F HOTTER than coast
"Never rains"	Rainy season Dec-Mar

Best weather: September-November (warmest, clearest)

4. Current Data

Item	Range
1BR rent	$2,000-3,000 (varies wildly by area)
Senior SWE salary	$180K-350K total comp
Car insurance	$150-300/month (HIGH)
Tacos	$2-4 each

5. Tourist Traps

Skip: Hollywood Walk of Fame (dirty, disappointing), Venice Beach boardwalk (sketchy)
Do: Griffith Observatory (FREE, best views), Getty Center (FREE, world-class)
Book ahead: Universal Studios, popular restaurants

6. Neighborhood Spread

LA is HUGE. Where you live = your lifestyle.

Profile	Best Areas
Young tech workers	Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista
Entertainment industry	West Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake
Families	Pasadena, South Bay, Studio City
Budget-conscious	Valley (Sherman Oaks, Burbank), Koreatown
Beach lifestyle	Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Venice

7. Safety Varies Dramatically

Generally safe but very block-dependent
Areas to research carefully: parts of DTLA, Hollywood at night
Car break-ins: less than SF but still common in tourist areas See safety.md for specifics.

LA-Specific Traps

"I don't need a car" — You do. Metro is improving but not enough.
Hollywood glamour — Hollywood Blvd is grimy and disappointing.
"Traffic isn't that bad" — It is. Plan 1.5-2x Google Maps time.
Valley = undesirable — Actually great value, more space, family-friendly.
Beach = best living — Coastal fog May-July. Valley is sunnier.
Everything is close — LA is 50+ miles across. Plan your life by area.
Universal over Disneyland — Disneyland is better but in Anaheim (1+ hr).