I live in LA, the biggest expense is housing, a one bedroom is around $1500, studio about $1000. I work in film and television so whenever I am working, all meals are catered so it saves me a ton in food, but food is not any more expensive than anywhere else I've lived.
I make six figures now, but for several years while trying to break into the business I made much less (my first year I made 7k). I lived with a roommate which helped, but even splitting expenses you're looking at $800-$1000 best case scenario. There are technically more affordable areas to live, but they are far enough out of LA where you'll just spend the difference in fuel and time sitting in traffic, or they are really lousily places to live (and I'm no prude). A regular normal person house that would cost $150k elsewhere will cost $900k here, no joke, I am always shocked when I look up a house that I feel would be cheap, and found out its 2.5 mil. and this is in like Burbank not on the beach or Beverly Hills something (where the house costs 50 mil).
Despite my increase in income, I continue to live like I did before (except I have my own 1 bedroom place, however it is about 500sqt, for $1500 a month) and am able to bank about 75% of my income...so from the point of view that as long as you are willing to work hard to keep your expenses low, you can make much more money here than you can elsewhere which works out great as long as you save it.
Public transportation exists but isn't anywhere near the level of convenience of other cities, you can bike, people do, but I don't because I fear for my life, people here do not take kindly to bike riders.
The city is big enough where you can find entertainment at any price level you seek.
It's 78 degrees and sunny out right now.