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I've lived in NYC for quite a few years now, I have friends who are struggling with the cost of rent. Here are some of their solutions, for those who are struggling too.
Person A
Lives 20 blocks from the subway in Queens, safe area but inconvenient. Uses CitiBike after the subway, after a night out
Person B
Lives in someones living room in the West Village, instead of own bedroom
Person C
Got street smart and lives in one of the worst areas of the Bronx, takes the express bus home instead of the subway to avoid being attacked. Express bus stop outside his apartment.
Person D
Lives in Newark in a reasonable area
Person E
Won the housing lottery (applied constantly for a year). Lives in Chelsea in an awesome place.
Anybody else have any ideas on how to live in this city on a low/medium income?
Newark actually isn't cheap by any stretch. They are advertising rooms starting at $1500 but that's without any fees. Those newly built apts have maintenance fees tackled on. You're most likely paying $1700 a month for a 1 bed in Newark.
The cheapest place to rent around here is further south NJ. Rooms for $1000+ is pretty common in NJ with a 1 hour commute to NYC.
Newark actually isn't cheap by any stretch. They are advertising rooms starting at $1500 but that's without any fees. Those newly built apts have maintenance fees tackled on. You're most likely paying $1700 a month for a 1 bed in Newark.
The cheapest place to rent around here is further south NJ. Rooms for $1000+ is pretty common in NJ with a 1 hour commute to NYC.
Newark is not cheap.
Hmmmmm maybe it isn't cheap now? He bought his house a few years ago for dirt cheap. Mortgage is under $500 a month now.
Best advice is live where you can afford and not where you want to ideally be. Transportation and your feet will get you where you need to go.
This. Live where you can afford to live and save some money.
My friend and I were both making about the same money. Our husbands made about the same money.
Her rent was $2300/month when ours was $1300. She wanted to live in Williamsburg (and she didn't even live in a great part and was sort of far from the train) while I was in Brooklyn---further out but a five minute walk to the train. Then she didn't understand how I had some money saved up.
Since then I bought a coop and my mortgage/maintenance is less than a rental would be.
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