So, You Wanna Know How Fancy You Gotta Be in LA? A Guide to AMI in 2023 (Because We All Know Rent is Bananas)
Ah, Los Angeles. The land of sunshine, dreams, and eye-watering rent prices. But before you decide to crash on your friend's couch permanently (hey, it's been done!), you might be curious about that mysterious term getting tossed around: AMI.
Hold on, what's AMI?
AMI, my friend, stands for Area Median Income. It's basically a fancy way of saying "how much money most folks in a certain area are making." This number is super important because it gets used to determine eligibility for all sorts of fun things, like affordable housing programs.
So, what was the AMI for LA County in 2023?
Now we're getting somewhere! Buckle up, because in the land of Hollywood endings, this number might surprise you. For a four-person household in LA County in 2023, the AMI was a cool $98,200.
Wait, what? That much?
Yep, that much. See, LA isn't exactly known for being budget-friendly. But hey, at least you can pretend you're a millionaire while eating instant ramen in your shoebox apartment, right?
But I'm not a family of four! What about me?
Don't worry, we haven't forgotten about you, single sophisticate or cozy couple. AMI varies depending on household size. The good news is, you can find all this info online from the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. Just be prepared to do some light Googling – consider it your first test to see if you can survive the LA hustle.
Okay, this is all helpful and stuff, but isn't there a way to know if I'm an "AMI-able" resident without, you know, adulting?
Let's be honest, adulting is overrated. Here's a totally unofficial (and possibly inaccurate) way to gauge your AMI status:
- Can you afford avocado toast on a daily basis? - Ballin' out of control (probably above AMI)
- Do you own a car and cry a little every time you fill up the gas tank? - Getting by, but feeling the pinch (maybe AMI range)
- Ramen noodles are your best friend, and public transportation is your savior? - Frugality champion (likely below AMI)
The moral of the story?
Los Angeles might have a high AMI, but there are ways to make it work. So, do your research, find your tribe, and remember – even if you're rocking the ramen noodle lifestyle, you can still dream big in the City of Angels.
