After living in LA for almost a year, here are 5 of the biggest differences between life here and back home.

I have now lived in the US for over 10 months, and during that time, it’s safe to say I’ve experienced a fair few culture shocks!

While people in England and people in Los Angeles might speak the same language, there are still many differences in conduct, behaviour and lifestyle between the two locations.

It is important to note that the US is a huge country and each state has its own customs, culture and climate that makes it different from others. So bear in mind that my perspective is from someone who has lived only on the West Coast, and only in LA at that! So if you’re moving to somewhere like Florida or New Jersey, not all of my points below will apply.

Without further ado, here are 5 of the biggest differences I’ve found between living in both the UK and LA (and a few tips for if you’re planning on making the move, too!)

1. People in the US, at least in LA, are very different personality-wise to British people. British people are often very direct and true to their word, but if you make plans with a Californian, well, don’t count on it… many people here are quite flaky and agree to things they have no intention of ever attending. I’ve spoken to so many transplants from Europe who agree with me on this, so I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. In LA, everybody acts like they want to be your friend, but finding someone who genuinely means it is rare.

2. Shopping is a completely different experience in the US compared to the UK. You’ll soon learn that the stickered price of an item is not its final price – they add an additional sales tax of 7.25-10% at the checkout. And everything feels so much more expensive here too, exchange rates aside. So be prepared to spend more on groceries than you would in the UK (yes, even with post-Brexit prices!).

3. Tipping culture is everywhere, and not just at restaurants. Even if you’re picking up fast food, ordering boba or getting ice cream – basically anything with minimal interaction between you and the server – you’ll still be presented with the option to tip before checkout. Whilst it’s not mandatory, many places do expect a tip of around 20% for sit-down service and some even add on extra charges to your bill that we simply wouldn’t see in the UK, like a service charge or a hospitality fee.

4. The plug sockets in the US are perpetually ‘on.’ When I first moved, I was searching for the plug switch, but then realised they don’t exist here! You simply plug in your devices and they begin charging automatically.

5. The weather here is very different to England (keep in mind I’m talking about LA, and other states have climates more similar to the UK). The summers are consistently warm and reach highs of around 30 degrees, as expected. But I think what’s most surprising to people is that we do have a winter here in LA too, it’s just much milder than it is back home. The coldest it gets is around 12 degrees Celsius, so no sign of any frost but you definitely still need a coat or warmer jacket especially during the mornings and evenings.

These are a few of the differences I’ve noticed after having lived in both countries, but believe it or not, LA and England also have more similarities than you might expect, which I will write about soon.

Let me know in the comment section below – what’s the biggest thing you’ll miss from the UK if you’re planning on moving away?

(For me, it’s British TV, but that can be easily solved with the help of a VPN!)