I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. Drinking culture and work-life balance feel so different on the West Coast.

I’ve noticed some big cultural differences since moving from New York City to Los Angeles one year ago.

Chones/Shutterstock

I was born and raised in New York City and moved to Los Angeles over a year ago.
I’ve been surprised by a few things, like how people in LA seem to drink less than people in NYC.
In my opinion, hustle culture doesn’t feel as glamorized in LA as it does in New York.

I’m a born and raised New Yorker. I grew up in Queens, and after a four-year stint in Washington, DC, for college, I moved to Manhattan.

I thought I was going to live there for the rest of my life. I didn’t drive, I loved walking everywhere, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to live without a grocery store, nail salon, dry cleaner, ice cream shop, and bar within sight of my front door.

Then, I packed up and moved to Los Angeles. I just felt like it was time for a change, and I wanted to experience the “perfect” California weather that so many rave about.

I knew there would be differences between life on the East Coast and West Coast, but here are a few things that have surprised me most so far.

People seem to treat cars like accessories in LA.

Cars on a road in Los Angeles in front of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. — I didn’t know how much time people spend taking care of their cars in Los Angeles.

brunocoelho/Shutterstock

I knew Los Angeles was a driving city, but I didn’t realize how common it is for people here to treat their cars like big, expensive accessories. It feels like the norm to spend significant amounts of time and money washing and caring for vehicles here.

In my experience, when someone has a car in New York City (and can actually find a parking spot for it), they really only drive it on weekends to leave the city — and they’re almost certainly not souping the vehicle up LA-style.

Bar culture feels more destination-oriented.

A bar with a windowed roof and string lights at dusk. — Bar culture in New York City felt more spontaneous than in Los Angeles.

Amanda Pellegrino

On a Saturday night in New York City, my friends and I would usually casually barhop without a clear plan.

We might have chosen a neighborhood or had a starting point in mind, but we’d always end up walking a block or two to try to find our next hangout spot.

In contrast, I’ve found that Los Angeles bar culture seems more destination-oriented. People pick a spot — maybe two — and that’s the night.

There seems to be more forethought and logistics involved in night-out plans, perhaps because a lot of people drive and don’t want to leave their cars, or they need to plan their drinking around sobering up to drive home.

Mocktails seem to be more popular here, too.

A close-up of two people's hands toasting with non-alcoholic cocktails. — Drinking mocktails seems to be more popular in LA.

Annette Riedl/Contributor/picture alliance via Getty Images

In my experience, drinking alcohol in LA doesn’t seem as popular here as it did in New York.

In LA, I’ve found there’s a good chance you or someone in your friend group is driving home from the bar, so they’ll be drinking less alcohol or sticking to mocktails.

People in New York are more likely to use public transportation, so they don’t have to worry about getting behind the wheel after a night out.

It also feels easier to make plans that don’t involve alcohol in LA since the warm weather lends itself to a lot of other options for socializing, like hiking, biking, or walking on the beach.

Since the weather is often perfect, I’ve noticed people are unhappier when it’s not.

The author's laptop on a picnic table outside. — In LA, bad weather seems to be a bigger disrupter than in NYC.

Amanda Pellegrino

Since LA’s weather is great most of the time, with lots of sunshine and warmth, people here are quick to be unhappy when it’s anything less than perfect.

When there’s a strong breeze, it’s cloudy, it’s below 60 degrees, or it’s raining a little, I’ve noticed that Angelenos seem more likely to cancel plans or be quick to complain.

The attitude feels contagious, too. I once decided it was too chilly to write in my yard and went inside — it was 65 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny with a slight breeze.

I wasn’t always this way, though. During my time in New York, 65 degrees and sunny in March equaled hundreds of people (including myself) flocking to Central Park with picnic baskets, games, and cheese boards to bask in the sun all day.

New Yorkers know very well what all the highs and lows of changing seasons can look like, and a little rain or wind doesn’t stop them.

It feels like people in LA have better boundaries between work and life.

A picnic blanket with a cooler, two salads, and two cans of beer. The picnic setup has a view of the water. — I think people in LA do a better job prioritizing work-life balance.

Amanda Pellegrino

In my opinion, hustle culture doesn’t feel as glamorized in LA as it did back home.

Where being busy can translate to looking important in NYC — I’ve been that girl with her computer at the bar on a Friday night — people I’ve encountered in LA seem to set better boundaries to protect their work-life balance.

I can’t help but think the perfect weather has something to do with it.

Sure, this city is also full of people chasing their dreams, but it feels a lot easier to stop and take a break when you’ve got the California coast at your fingertips.

This story was originally published on April 23, 2025, and most recently updated on October 17, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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