LA and the surrounding area isn't cheap to live in. It really all depends on what you do with your money and how lavishly you want to live but I'd say $120k is actually quite reasonable if you're able to live reasonably. Given the choice of $120k in LA or $120k elsewhere, I'm not going to lie, the $120k is going to go further elsewhere (except for, like, SF or New York), but then you're not in LA.
I also don't mean to impugn ramen either, as LA's got some really really good ramen restaurants. It all comes down to if you want to or not. LA's got a lot to offer but it's not for everybody.
