How Much Does UCLA Off-Campus Housing Cost in Westwood?
UCLA off campus housing in Westwood runs roughly $950 to $1,300 per person for a shared bedroom, $1,300 to $1,800 for a private bedroom, and $1,900 to $2,600 for a studio. A two-bedroom apartment averages about $4,173 a month right now, which works out to roughly $973 per person if four of you split it. Westwood rents have climbed about 20% over the past year, so what your friends paid last fall is not what you will pay this fall.
Key Takeaways
- Shared bedrooms in Westwood: $950–$1,300/person/month — the cheapest legitimate way to live within walking distance of campus.
- Private rooms run $1,300–$1,800/person, and you should not expect a parking spot under $200/month on top of that.
- A two-bedroom split four ways often beats a UCLA dorm room when you account for the meal plan you would have been forced to buy.
- 20% year-over-year rent increase. Last year’s quoted prices are not this year’s prices.
- Move one to two miles east toward Sawtelle or south toward Palms and you can shave $200–$400 off your share of rent — at the cost of a 15-minute commute or a BruinBus ride.
- Buildings on Gayley, Levering, Strathmore, and Veteran are the four streets to memorize. Almost every “student building” you’ve heard of sits on one of them.
What UCLA Off-Campus Housing Actually Costs in Westwood Right Now
Westwood Village rent averages roughly $3,067 a month per unit, which sounds insane until you remember most students aren’t renting the unit alone. The math shifts hard once you split it. A 2-bed/2-bath split two ways lands around $2,000 per person. A 4-person split of the same unit drops you closer to $975–$1,100 each. That’s the spread you’re actually choosing between when you decide how many roommates to live with.
Studios — the option for people who refuse to share a kitchen — clock in at $1,900 to $2,600 in Westwood proper. One-bedrooms run $2,400 to $3,200. Both numbers assume you’re inside the immediate UCLA walking radius, which roughly means anything west of Veteran, south of Sunset, and north of Wilshire.
Rents around UCLA typically outpace LA’s city average by 15% to 30%. The premium buys you proximity. Walk to a 9 a.m. class, walk home, walk to the Hammer Museum, walk to Diddy Riese. Move out of Westwood and you trade that walkability for cheaper rent and a daily commute.
The Buildings and Streets Worth Knowing
If you ask a senior where the “student buildings” are, they’ll name four streets: Gayley Avenue, Levering Avenue, Strathmore Drive, and Veteran Avenue. Almost every off-campus complex marketed to UCLA students sits on one of them.
On Gayley alone, you’ll hear three names: Westwood Plaza Apartments at 501-505 Gayley (units starting around $1,950), Westwood Palms at 475 Gayley (literally across the street from on-campus housing, with a few units that still have a fireplace), and Gayley Court at 715 Gayley near the Reagan Medical Center. Levering Terrace at 885 Levering is a 10-story complex — wall-unit AC, not central, so factor that into August move-in.
11089 Strathmore Drive runs a remodeled, fully furnished 2-bedroom for $4,000 a month set up for four tenants. That’s $1,000 each with furniture included, which is one of the better deals you’ll see on that street if you don’t mind sharing a bathroom.
How Off-Campus Compares to UCLA Dorms
UCLA on-campus residence hall contracts for a standard double with a meal plan land in the $18,000–$20,500 range for the full academic year, depending on the room category. That works out to roughly $1,800–$2,050 per month over nine months — and you’re locked into a dining plan whether you eat it or not. The official 2026-27 contract rates on the UCLA Housing site break this out by building tier.
Off-campus, a four-person split of a 2-bed in Westwood at $973 a month means you save roughly $800–$1,000 a month over the dorm rate. Stretch that across a 12-month lease — which is what most Westwood landlords want — and the gross savings is real, but you eat that savings back through summer rent if you’re not subletting. Run the actual math before assuming off-campus is cheaper.
Where the Dorm Wins
Freshmen are required to live on-campus their first year, so this is moot until sophomore year. Beyond that, the dorm beats off-campus on one specific axis: zero hidden costs. No security deposit, no last month’s rent up front, no broker fee on Strathmore, no surprise water bill that says everyone in the unit owes $87. The price is the price.
What Moves You Out of Westwood Saves You
The single biggest cost lever isn’t the building — it’s the ZIP code. Sawtelle (a mile east), Palms (two miles south), and Mar Vista (three miles southwest) all knock $200–$400 off the per-person price for a comparable unit. The trade-off is a 12-to-25-minute commute by car, BruinBus, or — for the brave — a bike across Wilshire.
Palms is the popular “I want a real LA neighborhood, not the campus bubble” choice. Sawtelle gives you walkable food and groceries but adds a bus or rideshare to class. Brentwood is technically closer than Palms but rents like it’s downtown, so most students rule it out fast. Full disclosure: this is us, but you can compare actual current Westwood-area listings side-by-side on the Find My Place Los Angeles listings page instead of scrolling generic rental sites at midnight.
Hidden Costs That Sink Your Budget
Rent is the headline. It’s not the whole bill. Parking in Westwood runs $150–$300 a month and is rarely included — even at “luxury” buildings. Utilities (electric, gas, internet, water/trash) typically add $100–$180 per person depending on the building’s setup and how aggressive your roommates are about AC.
Then the move-in math: first month, last month, and one month’s security deposit is the standard ask. On a $1,200 share, that’s $3,600 the week before you start classes. Renter’s insurance, which most leases now require, runs another $12–$20 a month. None of these show up in the headline rent number you saw online.
When to Start Looking
February through April. Westwood’s lease cycle starts earlier than most college towns because incoming UCLA seniors and grad students lock units months in advance. Walk into May still looking and you’re picking through what’s left, which is usually the worst-located, worst-managed units on the block. By June, the Strathmore and Levering pickings get thin. By July, you’re paying summer-search penalty pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions About UCLA Off-Campus Housing
Is it cheaper to live off-campus or in the dorms at UCLA?
With three or four roommates, yes — by roughly $800–$1,000 a month. Solo or with one roommate in Westwood proper, the dorm usually wins once you factor in the mandatory meal plan and the missing 12-month lease commitment.
What’s the cheapest neighborhood near UCLA?
Palms, hands down, for the rent-to-distance ratio. Two miles south of campus, dense with student renters, and rents that run 15–25% below Westwood for comparable units. Mar Vista and Sawtelle come next.
Do UCLA students need a car in Westwood?
No, but you’ll regret not having one by your second quarter. Westwood Village covers groceries, food, and pharmacies, and BruinBus plus Big Blue Bus get you most other places. The car becomes necessary if you ever want to leave the 405 corridor on a Saturday.
When should I start my UCLA off-campus housing search?
February for fall move-in. The Westwood lease cycle is aggressive — the building you actually want is leased by April. Start touring in March, sign by mid-April, and you’re set.
What’s a fair price for a private bedroom near UCLA right now?
Between $1,300 and $1,800 if you’re inside the immediate UCLA walking radius. Anything under $1,300 in Westwood proper deserves a second look — usually means a north-facing windowless interior bedroom or a building with deferred maintenance.
How much is parking in Westwood?
$150–$300 a month, and it’s almost never included in the lease. Some Gayley buildings cap parking at one spot per unit, which becomes a fight if you have three roommates with cars.
