Living in Boston on 55k$

[kingeorge]

If person have no debts and starting with clean slate, 50K-55K is very doable. OP has $500 in debt payment a month, and that will cut, quite significantly, into monthly available budget. Either roommates if closer in to Boston, or very cheap 1bed/studio further away. But then you have commuting costs. Pick your poison.
Some people have hard time living like that in their most productive years. And, in Boston one needs to be very realistic about one's earning potential, since COL are quite astronomical. Even for much better paid folks is tough to survive and save, and fund retirement, have kids...
If you never moved from your place of birth, you do not understand costs of "uprooting" and starting anew, especially in the one of the most expensive areas in the country. Also not everyone "gets" that even wealthy here live in relatively modest and humble places, unlike in the rest of more modern USA. We here, do not take many things for granted, and it takes some adjustment, to accept how little your money buys. And, not that we work less in MA than in some other parts of the country.
50K around here, translates into 25k-30K "purchasing power" in "cheaper" parts of the country, if that much.

[jagilya]

Lots of people make way less than that and manage to live here. If you don't go out every day, cook at home instead of eating out all the time and manage to find awesome things to do for a discount or for free (there are TONS of MeetUp, , etc), you can absolutely manage it.

If you have a car - that would add to your expenses, of course. Traffic is a nightmare often during the peak hours, so if your work is north of Boston, I'd look at Medford, or something, but surely not JP. Also, avoid Dorchester, etc, "gun" areas, too much crime over there.

I remember living on $34K when I was a student and I didn't die But I had a roommate and no car.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by jagilya

Lots of people make way less than that and manage to live here. If you don't go out every day, cook at home instead of eating out all the time and manage to find awesome things to do for a discount or for free (there are TONS of MeetUp, , etc), you can absolutely manage it.

If you have a car - that would add to your expenses, of course. Traffic is a nightmare often during the peak hours, so if your work is north of Boston, I'd look at Medford, or something, but surely not JP. Also, avoid Dorchester, etc, "gun" areas, too much crime over there.

I remember living on $34K when I was a student and I didn't die But I had a roommate and no car.

OH MY GOD! A roommate and no car??? Your life was not worth living.

[Cliff Clavin]

Originally Posted by jagilya

I remember living on $34K when I was a student and I didn't die But I had a roommate and no car.

Ha. I did it on 28k, and I had a car and NO roommate!

Although this was pre 9/11. Clinton was in office, and Usher on top of the pop charts. Simpler times...

[BostonMike7]

My starting salary out of College was 55K. I managed to buy a Condo on Revere beach with that (I had a good size down payment however), a car, normal student loan debt, 401K, health insurance, etc, etc and did it all as a single person living on my own. I made it work. Just don't expect to be riding around in a Benz or going out partying 2 nights a week. It can be done...


That was 5 years ago. Things are better for me now. Now i drive a Benz