Moving to Lincoln Park (apartment, to rent, insurance)

[blisbry]

I will hopefully be moving to Lincoln Park in a couple months from Tampa, FL and was wondering if anyone knows what type of apartment I can find for $1000 - $1200? It doesnt have to be anything special, maybe around 600 - 700 sq. ft. Is that price range doable for an apartment of that size?

I will be making around $40k per year, can you live comfortably in Lincoln Park with that type of income?

Any help would be appreciated.

[valpoguy]

I've never lived in LP, so somebody else can answer that better, but I can't imagine paying $1000-$1200 rent on a 40K income anywhere. That would be about half of your take-home pay going to rent, right? If you have a car in the city the car payment, insurance, taxes, and parking could eat up most of the other half. If you don't have a car, I would think it could be pretty doable if you don't eat out a lot and are generally thrifty.

I'd probably move to a less-yuppie neighborhood to save on rent (or get a studio apt. if you really want to stay in LP), but that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

[untuchableface]

You should be fine with the rent range and salary. You could get a smaller 1 bedroom for that price.

You can live comfortably on 40k. Maybe going out every night isn't the best option though as Lincoln Park can get a bit expensive.

[blisbry]

Thanks for the insight guys, I dont plan on having a car so that will be a huge cost savings. My office would be on the west edge of Lincoln Park so it wouldnt be more than a short bus ride away.

[Drover]

Something to consider is whether heat is included in the price of the rent. Often it is, and often it isn't. If it's not included, make sure to budget an extra $100/mo or so (based on a 600-700sqft apartment) for heat.

[blisbry]

Wow, $100/ month on heat? Definitley dont have that in FL.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by blisbry

Wow, $100/ month on heat? Definitley dont have that in FL.

Well that's a little on the high side for sure... just a benchmark to consider. Your heating bill can be as high as $200 in winter, depending on how drafty or well-insulated your windows are -- we had a couple days this past winter that never saw temperatures above zero -- and obviously as low as $0/mo in the summer. But the $100/mo is about an average for what you can expect to heat in the winter, air condition in the summer, and a bit of neither in the spring/fall.

[mdz]

or you could have lived in a totally drafty garden apt in the mid 90s and paid $ 200/month. Darn forced air never shut off all winter. Never got much above 65 either.

After we moved out, they tore down the place. Kinda wish they had while we were living there

[Avengerfire]

40k gross or net? I do not think you can live too comfortably in LP off of that as a gross. Paying 1,000-1,200 rent without electric,gas,phone cable etc? What will you eat Ramen Noodles and cat food? Try to find a place below 800 and you might be fine-but I doubt you can find that in LP unless you want a small studio.

[Avengerfire]

If you are willing to be a couple miles away from LP you can pay MUCH less and still be close. If you need help,send me a message.