While dating may seem like a city marathon in other major metropolises in the US, it's practically an obstacle course here in
Los Angeles! To say that dating here is difficult is an understatement! It is pretty easy for some, but they tend to be the young, beautiful, and wealthy sort. As for the Average Joes in the city, you'll have to contend with the fact that money, fame, and beauty reign supreme in LA. The city imposes practically impossible beauty standards, and in turn, catching another person's eye is much more challenging. Here's what you need to know about dating in Los Angeles.
Is it Hard to Date in Los Angeles?
Yes, it is. The dating scene is hard no matter where you are, but it's especially challenging in Los Angeles, and there are many reasons why. A huge part of it is the Hollywood machine and how it imposed nearly impossible beauty standards in the city. Since this is where A-list celebrities live and work, many have come to expect that the people to date here ought to look like movie stars. Not to mention wealthy, too. LA is undoubtedly affluent, but not all of it is rich. Many get the wrong idea that if you could afford to
move to Los Angeles and live here, you could afford to spend money on dates, anniversaries, and whatnot.
Proximity Matters
While
LA's public transport is fairly efficient, it's admittedly harder to navigate compared to more congested cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, and more. Most either drive or take an Uber to get around here, leading to another standard single people tend to have when looking for someone to date: proximity. Though not all, several people in Los Angeles prefer to date someone who lives near them. That doesn't necessarily guarantee a strong interest or even a steady relationship, but they will be willing to meet anytime. Especially if they don't have to drive or commute that far to get to you.
Using Dating Apps in LA
Dating apps are another reason why proximity has become a common standard for dating in Los Angeles. When you open up Tinder, Bumble, and the like, the first ones to appear will be those who are near you. In fact, nearly 10% to 50% of couples today have met through apps, and LA, being the tech-heavy city it is, is no exception. Hence, you're more likely to meet someone and even secure a date online than in person. But this comes with its own set of problems too, such as the risk of catfishing, scams, and the like.
Looks Carry More Weight Here
The cold, hard truth about dating in LA—or living here, in general—is that the city has sky-high beauty standards. This is Hollywood, after all, so there's this unorthodox expectation that people who live here look just as good as movie stars, models, celebrity influencers, and the like. Hence, there's also this invisible pressure for locals to keep up with them, either through medical procedures or following extreme health and fitness lifestyles. Unfortunately, such pressure has seeped into the city's dating scene, too, with many people preferring to date conventionally attractive people.
Get Fit Together
Just how much does LA pressure you to look conventionally fit and attractive? It's now common for couples to get fit together. Instead of the usual movie dates, candle-lit dinners in
LA's Michelin-starred restaurants, and the like, several LA couples now work out together, go on marathons, and would rather exercise than simply hang out. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it's not exclusive to Los Angeles, either, but it's definitely more rampant here than anywhere else. And though it's technically a good thing to encourage your partner to maintain their fitness, there's no denying that LA, in particular, comes with the unique pressure of looking good.
Social Status Reigns Supreme
Your looks are only part of your overall social status that, unfortunately, still reigns supreme in Los Angeles. You'll also have an easier time dating in the city if you're wealthy and well-connected. The former is mostly because
LA has high living costs. and is famous for its glitz and glamour. As mentioned earlier, people are more likely to date you if they know that you can afford to live comfortably in this notoriously expensive city. The latter, on the other hand, mostly relates to Los Angeles as a major business hub. You'll naturally attract more people if you know celebrities personally, work for well-known companies, or are simply a friend of their friend.
Expect More Progressive Lifestyles
As a largely liberal city, Los Angeles is also more open to newer and more progressive ideas of dating. A majority still prefers a more traditional romance, but more and more people are considering dating openly, trying polyamory, and the like. Naturally, these lifestyles give more freedoms, but they're far from conventional. If you're not used to these, you shouldn't feel pressure to do them, even when your partner wants them too. This is where the importance of open communication comes in, especially if you're clear about your own boundaries.
The City's Huge LGBTQ+ Scene
In this day and age, the LGBTQ+ community has dominated LA. Or, at the very least, certain
neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Either way, their proud presence in the city has made it safe and much easier for queer people to date openly here. If you're a gay man, for instance, especially with conventional good looks, it won't take you long to score a date in West Hollywood. However, you should also know that the queer community is also more open to newer lifestyles like polyamory. So if you don't necessarily want that for your relationship, you have to be clear about it from the get-go!
Dating in Los Angeles is a hard challenge, but it's worth taking on. You never know who you might end up with in this diverse and exciting city. But before you try it out, you should learn more about what dating in LA is truly like.
