You can certainly rent a house with yard for less than $2700/month. Have you looked in the San Fernando Valley? I just saw a two bedroom advertised for $1800.

And, there are lots of houses for rent in L.A. I hear the advertised rents are negotiable, if you have decent credit. The end of the housing boom has left a lot of spec buyers very interested in renting out houses they bought for the now non-existant appreciation.