The Best LA Neighborhoods for Australians Making the Move
Los Angeles has one of the largest Australian expat communities in the world. If you've spent any time in the Valley or West Hollywood, you've probably noticed. There's something about this city that suits Australians particularly well, the outdoor lifestyle, the sunshine, the general attitude, and a lot of them come for a year or two and end up buying a house and staying for decades.
If you're at the stage of figuring out where to actually live, here's an honest breakdown of the neighborhoods that tend to work best for Aussies, and why.
What's different about LA (even if it doesn't feel like it at first)
Australia and the US feel more similar than they are. The language is the same, the general culture translates pretty easily, and the lifestyle has obvious overlap. But LA has some quirks that catch people out.
The car thing is real. You will drive everywhere. Sydney-siders who are used to ferries and trains and a functioning bus network find this the hardest adjustment. Melbourne people, slightly less so. But either way, which neighborhood you live in relative to where you work is one of the most important decisions you'll make.
Also, the neighborhoods in LA are genuinely very different from each other, in feel, price, walkability, and vibe. It's worth taking the time to explore rather than just picking somewhere that looks good on a map.
Where Australians tend to feel at home
Sherman Oaks and Studio City
These two neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley are probably where I'd start for most Australians, especially anyone coming with a family or wanting a proper house rather than an apartment. The Valley has a laid-back quality that a lot of Aussies immediately respond to. Big blocks, outdoor entertaining spaces, good schools, a relaxed community feel.
Ventura Boulevard running through both neighborhoods has a good strip of restaurants and coffee spots, and the whole area is well set up for people who want space and a real neighborhood rather than the more frenetic energy of central LA.
Studio City is slightly more polished than Sherman Oaks, with a loyal community and strong local identity. Sherman Oaks is a bit more spread out and slightly more affordable. Both are solid choices.
West Hollywood and Beverly Grove
If you're working in the entertainment industry, creative industries, or tech, and a lot of Australians in LA are, West Hollywood is worth serious consideration. It's the most walkable part of LA, it's lively, the restaurant scene is genuinely excellent, and it has an international energy that makes it easy to meet people.
The trade-off is size and price. You're giving up space for location. If outdoor living and a proper backyard matter to you, this probably isn't your neighborhood. If proximity to work and nightlife matters more, it could be exactly right.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is worth serious consideration for Australians, and a lot of them end up there for good reason. The beach lifestyle, the outdoor culture, the farmers markets, the general attitude: it translates well. If you're coming from Sydney or Melbourne and you want that same coastal energy, Santa Monica is the closest LA equivalent. It's also home to a large Australian expat community, so settling in tends to happen faster. Just know that you're paying a premium for it, both in rent and purchase price, and the homes are generally smaller than what you'd get in the Valley for the same money.
Los Feliz and Silver Lake
These hillside neighborhoods east of Hollywood have a creative, independent feel that a lot of Australians connect with. Good coffee, interesting restaurants, walkable streets, older homes with character. Los Feliz has beautiful architecture and a genuine neighborhood community. Silver Lake is slightly younger and more restaurant-focused.
If you're the kind of person who cares about where your coffee comes from and wants to live somewhere with personality, these neighborhoods are worth looking at seriously.
Toluca Lake
This one doesn't get talked about enough. Small, walkable along Riverside Drive, genuinely charming, tucked between Burbank and Studio City. If you're working anywhere near the Burbank studios (and a significant number of Australians in LA work in entertainment), it's an incredibly convenient base. It has a village quality that's rare in this city.
Calabasas and Woodland Hills
For Australians who want the most space for their money, a quieter setting, and easy access to outdoor activities, the western end of the Valley is worth considering. Calabasas in particular has excellent schools and a strong family community. It's a longer drive into the city, but for the right lifestyle it makes complete sense.
On price
The Valley offers considerably more space per dollar than the Westside. A three or four bedroom home with a decent backyard in Sherman Oaks or Studio City typically runs between about $1.2M and $2M depending on the street and condition. West Hollywood and Los Feliz skew higher, often significantly.
For Australians coming from Sydney in particular, these prices don't feel outrageous given what you get. The houses are bigger, the blocks are larger, and outdoor living space is a real feature rather than a token balcony.
Schools and practical things
If you're moving with kids, school zones are a big part of the neighborhood decision and they vary a lot. This is something I work through carefully with every family I work with, because buying in the wrong street can mean missing a school catchment by half a block. Worth getting right from the start.
Also, California's property tax system works differently from what you're used to, so it's worth having that conversation early too.
LA's Australian community is big, welcoming, and well established. Once you're here you'll find your people quickly. The harder part is just figuring out where to land.
If you want to talk through the neighborhoods in more detail before you make any decisions, I'm happy to help. Reach out at hello@anjinla.com or 310.404.6955.
