| Supermarket food | Approximate cost (USD) |
| loaf of bread | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| 1 kg rice | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| 500g pasta | 1.00 - 2.00 |
| packet of sausages | 3.00 - 5.00 |
| 1kg apples | 3.00 |
| packet of instant noodles | 0.25 |
| 1kg potatoes | 1.00 - 2.00 |
| tin of tuna | 0.60 - 0.75 |
| 500g minced beef | 3.00 |
| 6 eggs | 1.25 |
| 1 kg bananas | 1.00 - 2.00 |
| cheese (non-specialist) 200g | 3.00 |
| 1 pint of milk | 1.50 |
| 1 packet cookies | 3.00 |
| 1 litre orange juice | 3.00 * |
| 1 packet teabags | 1.00 |
| 1 jar instant coffee | 3.00 - 4.00 |
* Note: The recent orange freeze spiked the prices by about 50% (2007)
| Food in college | Approximate cost (USD) |
| can of fizzy drink | 0.75 |
| packet of crisps | 0.75 |
| Entertainment | Approximate cost (USD) |
| cinema ticket (full price) | 8.00 matinee, 11.00 -12.00 evening |
| theatre ticket | 20.00 - 100.00 |
| bowling | 10.00 including shoe rental and two games |
| nightclub entrance | from nothing to 20.00, ladies usually free |
| museum entrance | from nothing to 15.00 |
| pint of beer (570 ml) | 3.00 - 5.00 |
| can of Coke | 0.75 - 1.25 |
| Big Mac hamburger | 1.99 |
| Miscellaneous | Approximate cost (USD) |
| camera film | 4.99 upwards |
| notebook | 0.50 upwards |
| disposable pen | 1.00 |
| shampoo | 1.00 - 6.00 |
| soap | 1.00 - 4.50 |
| launderette | 4.00 - 6.00 |
| newspaper | 1.25 |
| magazine | 2.50 - 5.99 |
| haircut (men) | 12.00 - 25.00 |
| haircut (women) | 35.00 - 45.00 |
| local phone call | 0.50 |
| stamp for letter abroad | 0.80 upwards |
| mobile phone text message (within US) | 0.05 upwards |
| mobile phone call (within US, to same network) | 0.20 upwards |
| Clothing | Approximate cost (USD) |
| shoes | 19.99 - 99.99 |
| tights | 10.00 |
| socks | 5.00 |
| jeans | 25.00 - 30.00 |
| sweater | 15.00 - 35.00 |
| T shirt | 3.00 - 15.00 |
| Transport | Approximate cost (USD) |
| taxi | minimum cost 2.50 |
| bus | 1.25 per ride |
| train | 1.25 per ride |
Note: Check our links page for details of websites with much more information about public transport in Los Angeles and the USA.
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