New York City on $39,000 a year, can i do it? (Ridge: apartment, rentals)

[them]

My husband and I lived on my salary of $24k for a year before I finally got my raise. Had a 1 bedroom in Sunset Park ($875) and took advantage of the city's free entertainment when we wanted to go out. Just a quick google search brings up loads of free things to do here. I also worked from home, so that saved me a lot in transportation costs.

It helped that we were both straight out of college and used to having an empty/negative bank account.

[Matt00926]

You will be fine, I make around $36K and never think twice about spending money when I go out all the while saving.

[Wes927]

You could try to get a part time job.....couple of nights....a day on the weekend....at a retail establishment.

[juppiter]

Originally Posted by thunderfan1251

I've received a job offer from a human rights organization that I've always wanted to work for. This is a dream entry level job for me and it will give me the experience needed to progress in the field of international relations.

However the only problem I have with the position is the low salary, I'm from Oklahoma and not used to the high cost of living in NYC and I've heard its ridiculous. Will I be able to survive there wit a $39,000 first year salary? The position is located near the southern tip of Manhattan, would I be able to find a place to stay?

You need to find some kind of subsidized apartment. Check the NYC Housing Preservation & Development website for apartment lotteries.

[BinxBolling]

If you're willing to live with roommates, you can live on 39k very easily. I lived on 38k for a year with roommates and saved money without even thinking about it. If you want to live in your own place it'll be tricky but possible. $1000 and under studios in OK neighborhoods do exist.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by BillyMW

It's pretty easy at that income.

Haha, not easy by ANY means, but doable if OP can budget tightly and not expect the SATC lifestyle.

OP, the keys to success will be:
1. Finding a roommate and trying to keep rent at or below $1000-1100/mo. This basically boils down to rent is 1 of your 2 monthly paychecks.

2. You stick to public transit and don't $10 yourself to death with cab rides.

3. Learn to cook and pack your lunch everyday. Buying lunch- just to eat at your desk- is an $8-10/day bad habit. So is Starbucks or other coffee carts. Buy a Keurig and spend well under $1/day on your java.

4. Learn to look good on a budget. You can't afford to spend thousands of dollars on a NYC youn professionals wardrobe so learn to shop H&M, sales at Banana & JCrew, and even your local gently used consignment stores to get "the look" for less.

5. Meet friends for happy hour, not dinner. Catch movies during the day when they're a few bucks cheaper. Stream tv shows vs getting cable.

6. Hopefully your folks will spring for your plane tickets back to OK. I moved from Dallas to NYC in 2002 and the killer expenses on my low $40k starting salary was always plans tickets. Can easily be $400-500 to fly home for Christmas....which means you need to save $50-100/ month (or 5-10%) of your disposable icons after rent to save for 1-3 trips home a year. You also need to accept the fact you will miss many hometown & college friends weddings, bachelor/ette trips & parties, efc if you don't have $300-500 to make it there.

Of course, all of this changes if you've racked up $100k in student loans or $10k in credit card debt. Then, it will be all but impossible to manage on $39k due to those monthly payments. Strongly encourage you to move to the city with NO debt and a min of $5-6k in the bank to pay for startup living costs (professional wardrobe. Furniture or home/kitchen items, deposits, etc) and to keep a small cash cushion for emergencies.


NYC is the best place in the world to start a career and enjoy your early 20's but on a non-profit income if DOES take sacrifice and is frustrating to not be able to keep up with friends who are in higher paying industries or whose parents are bankrolling their manhattan lifestyle. It will pay off in the end though! 4 years in NYC probably put me 5 years ahead of my peers when I moved back to Dallas. For several years, I was the only one within 10 years of my age at my level at my company!

Good luck!

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by BinxBolling

If you're willing to live with roommates, you can live on 39k very easily. I lived on 38k for a year with roommates and saved money without even thinking about it. If you want to live in your own place it'll be tricky but possible. $1000 and under studios in OK neighborhoods do exist.

It is possible to find a large studio apt. for approx. $1000 a month in the area of Rego Park in Queens which is approx. 40 min. commute to Midtown Manhattan. Rego Park is a good neighborhood with all the necessary amenities.

[D. Scott]

As a single adult, Living outside Manhattan-Sure you can. As you get older though, And perhaps have a family your income will have to increase to keep on the level. That's the point where some move away to different states with a slower life pace and lower COL I have found. Because it does get costly then.

[joshd9124]

Like some ppl already said if you live with a roommate or two outside of Manhattan unless it's like Inwood or some parts of Washington Heights you should be fine

[checkmatechamp13]

If you don't mind the commute, you can easily get a studio or 1-bedroom for under $1,000 in most neighborhoods in SI (even some really desirable neighborhoods on the South Shore).

For instance:
Huguenot one bedroom apartment for rent. ($1,000/mo)
One Bedroom Apartment For Rent - Princes Bay, Staten Island 10309 ($900/mo)
One Bedroom Apartment - Princes Bay-Staten Island Valerie Bartolone-RealEstateSINY.com 917-733-5240 ($900/mo)
1br apartment for rent in Tottenville ($1,000/mo)
2 Bedroom Rental-Clove Lake Area $1100 a month (2-bedroom for $1,100)

And this was just a quick search, too. You could also try sharing an apartment, which would make it even cheaper.

A suggestion: If possible, look in an area with good express bus service, since it's easier than dealing with the ferry.

Then again, maybe I shouldn't be sharing this information. If everybody knows about the low prices, they won't be so low anymore.