6 Comments
 

Based on previous WSO threads, here are some insights on living in Los Angeles:

  • Lifestyle and Activities: LA offers a variety of activities such as volleyball, hiking, surfing, and golf. The beautiful weather and nearby nature provide opportunities for a healthier lifestyle.

  • Cost of Living: LA is generally cheaper than NYC. Taxes are slightly lower, and rent is cheaper on a per square foot basis and an absolute basis.

  • Career Growth: LA is considered a Tier 1 city, and having a top-tier opportunity there is highly regarded. Firms like Oaktree, Ares, ACORE, and Morgan Stanley have offices in both NYC and LA, and they do not pay their LA employees less.

For a 25-year-old with a girlfriend, living in LA can be a great choice due to the balance of professional opportunities and lifestyle benefits.

Sources: Best neighborhoods to live WITH GF in NYC (and timing) - 1st year IB Analyst Midtown Summer 2019, New York or LA, What cities will be the top places to live in the next 5-10 years?, The future of LA, The future of LA

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Sed nemo aut nisi qui sed mollitia eum ea. Doloremque sunt architecto harum ab quas delectus minus aut.

Deleniti soluta sequi ipsa ipsum voluptatem in sunt sed. Consectetur sapiente dolorem commodi doloremque laudantium. Reprehenderit et et ipsum molestiae rerum rerum commodi. Quo laudantium ratione quos. Quod nostrum unde esse est quia autem quos sed. Voluptatum velit aut minus dolorem. Voluptatibus quod laudantium et molestiae ut et.

Tenetur eligendi velit et unde est. Voluptatem unde assumenda in iure.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”