Backpacking Los Angeles (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Los Angeles

Los Angeles can chew through a wallet faster than In-N-Out fries, but it’s totally hackable with a backpacker mindset.

I’ve couch-hopped, hostel-hunted, and Metro-surfaced the sprawl enough times to know where the deals hide. 

This backpacking Los Angeles guide keeps it tight: quick numbers, no fluff, so you can spend less time budgeting and more time beach-bumming.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Los Angeles

Best for Hostel Newbies

STAY OPEN Venice Beach10.0

from $45.13 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Freehand8.5

from $20.09 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Banana Bungalow Hollywo...8.6

from $14.55 | More Details

This is not an ad. We help you find the perfect hostel and compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking. You can save up to 23.7%

Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Los Angeles

L.A. is pricey overall, yet still doable on backpacker cash if you mix dorm beds with street tacos.

• Shoestring ($70–$90)
  • 10-bed dorm in Hollywood or Koreatown.
  • Taco truck breakfasts, $2 coffee refills, free museum days.
  • Seven-day TAP Metro pass amortized to $3/day.
• Comfort ($100–$140)
  • 4-to-6-bed dorm or capsule pod near Santa Monica.
  • Fast-casual bowls, brewery flight, one paid attraction.
  • Metro + one Lyft Pool ride.
• Flashpacker ($150–$180)
  • Private hostel room or micro-hotel downtown.
  • Sushi happy hour, rooftop bar cocktails.
  • Electric scooter rentals, Uber night rides.

Expect summer and award-season surcharges; winter midweeks are cheapest.

Typical Daily Expenses in Los Angeles

• Accommodation – $35–$45 dorm (shoulder), $55+ (peak).
• Food – $30 average.
  • Breakfast $5–$8: breakfast burrito or bagel/coffee combo.
  • Lunch $10–$15: food-court poke or bánh mì.
  • Dinner $12–$20: taco plate, ramen, or grocery salad bar.
• Local Transport – $1.75 single fare, $25 weekly pass, bike-share $1/unlock.
• Attractions – $0–$20. Getty, Broad, Griffith Observatory are free; studio tour hits $20.
• Entertainment & Extras – $15–$30: craft beer pint, thrift haul, late-night slice.

Shoestring total ≈ $80. Comfort ≈ $115. Anything past $150 is luxury by hostel standards.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Los Angeles

1. USA Hostels Hollywood - best for Family-Friendly Hostel
2. Orange Drive Hostel - best for Digital Nomads, Family-Friendly Hostel, Quiet Rest, Solo Traveller
3. Orbit Hotel & Hostel
4. HI - Los Angeles - Santa Monica Hostel - best for Beach Lovers Retreat, Digital Nomads, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
5. ITH Hermosa Beach Surf Hostel LAX - best for Beach Lovers Retreat, Party Hostel, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel

USA Hostels Hollywood

8.6

Hollywood

"…During warmer months the dorms can get a bit hot and stuffy, so use those ceiling fans. The design more

Orange Drive Hostel

8.8

Hollywood

"…The staff are great! They are friendly and very helpful. The hostel is a old Mansion. It is bigger more

from

$19.89

Orbit Hotel & Hostel

8.3

West Hollywood

"…Orbit in LA was unreal. I stayed here four nights and they were the best of the holiday. We more

HI - Los Angeles - Santa Monica Hostel

9.0

Santa Monica

"…is dirty cheap for its size! I also participated in the free walking tours offered by the hostel more

from

$21.48

ITH Hermosa Beach Surf Hostel LAX

8.6

Hermosa Beach

"…The hostel was clean and was in a great location. I met a lot of really nice people and would more

from

$21.45

Money Saving Tips

• Load a TAP card – Daily cap ($5) beats single tickets fast.
• Free culture days – First Tuesdays & second Saturdays cover most big museums.
• Happy-hour hop – Venice and DTLA bars discount food 4–6 p.m.
• Refill stations – Bring a bottle; public fountains on the beach save $3 water buys.
• Use FlixBus – $4–$8 to San Diego or Santa Barbara for side trips.
• Trader Joe’s picnics – Two-buck-Chuck wine + pre-made wraps crush restaurant costs.
• Surf lessons by Craigslist – Locals offer $20 group sessions vs. $80 storefront.

Getting Around Los Angeles on a Budget

• Metro Rail – Red/Purple lines hit Hollywood & DTLA; Expo Line reaches Santa Monica.
• Rapid buses – The 720 down Wilshire is as quick as any rideshare during rush hour.
• Micro-mobility – Lime and Bird scooters are $1 + $0.30/min; great for last-mile beach hops.
• Bike paths – Marvin Braude Trail runs 22 miles along the coast—free cardio + sightseeing.
• Metrolink weekends – $10 all-day regional rail opens Pasadena, Anaheim, Ventura.
• Cheap airport run – FlyAway bus $9.75 from LAX to Union Station; avoids $60 Lyft.

Best Free & Budget Friendly Attractions

Free Things to Do

• Watch sunset from Griffith Observatory lawn—city lights + Hollywood Sign.
• Stroll Venice Boardwalk street performers and skate park.
• Hike Runyon Canyon early for celebrity dog-spotting.
• Explore murals in Arts District; every alley is an Instagram set.
• Join a free TV show taping—tickets on 1iota.

Low Cost Attractions

• Getty Villa shuttle $2—Greek-Roman art over the Pacific.
• Angels Flight funicular $1—shortest railway ride brag.
• Echo Park pedal boats $11/boat for two; skyline selfies included.

Food and Drinks on a Budget

• Taco trucks – $1.75 al pastor at Leo’s (La Brea) beats any sit-down.
• Asian night markets – SGV pop-ups sell $5 dumpling trays.
• 696 coffee rule – $6 specialty coffee, $9 sandwich, $6 pastry; pick two and stay sane.
• All-you-can-eat sushi lunch – K-Town spots from $26; skip dinner after.
• BYOB beaches – Alcohol officially banned but canned wine in coolers goes unnoticed—be discreet.
• No-cover bars – Dive bars in Echo Park rarely charge before 10 p.m.
• Thursday art-walk – Free gallery wine downtown, then $4 tacos at Grand Central Market.

Experiences for Backpackers

• Free walking tour Hollywood – Tips-only; meet at Dolby Theatre daily 10 a.m.
• Beach volleyball meetup – Venice nets; boards list open games.
• Comedy open-mic crawl – $5 cover & drink minimum beats $40 headliner shows.
• Salsa night at La Cita – $10 entry, cheap drafts, live band.
• Bike the Strand – $20 day rental gets you Manhattan to Malibu.
• Rooftop movie – Level DTLA hosts $18 screenings with skyline backdrop.
• Studio audience gig – Earn gift cards for sitting through game-show tapings.

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

• Best Time to Visit – Late January or early October: mild weather, hostel beds under $40.
• Booking in Advance – Coastal hostels fill fast; lock beds two weeks ahead.
• Avoid Tourist Traps – Skip the $25 “Star Homes” bus; the gates look like any driveway.
• Safety First – Stay alert on Metro after 10 p.m.; ride in the conductor car if solo.
• Cultural Respect – Tip at least 18 %—service wages depend on it.
• Public restrooms – Use libraries or malls; beach bathrooms close at sunset.
• Smog hacks – Clearest skyline views come after rain—check AQI apps before big hikes.

Backpacking Los Angeles is a mash-up of sunsets, street art, and dollar-fifty tacos. With this playbook and a TAP card in your pocket, the city of angels won’t feel so devilish on your budget.

Backpacking Los Angeles? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Matt Kiefer

Hey, I’m Matt, the founder behind Hostelgeeks.com. My team and I are collecting the absolute best hostels in the world for you. We share the coolest hostels so you can focus on your travels, rather than spending your time trying to pick a good hostel.

Personally, I’ve bunked in over 600 hostels and stamped my passport in more than 70 countries. My heart beats for Vietnam, Spain, and France, and so many more destinations. I’m a Foosball champ but a beer pong amateur.

Last but not least: Hostelgeeks is a proud ambassador of Hostelz.com.