income needed to enjoy NYC (New York, York: coops, hotels, public school)

[Funyun]

New York City is made up of 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx - each one of the boroughs is considered New York City; so for instance, I live in Queens but I still live in New York City.

New York City - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by AngelAura28

Thus, I know . . . you can have a GREAT LIFE in NYC with any income! An income is important, though . . . just for the Metrocard and rent. But, if you must live directly in NYC (and not Queens, Brooklyn or NJ)

[AngelAura28]

>> Originally Posted by AngelAura28 : Thus, I know . . . you can have a
>> GREAT LIFE in NYC with any income! An income is important, though . .
>> . just for the Metrocard and rent. But, if you must live directly in NYC
>> (and not Queens, Brooklyn or NJ)

Originally Posted by Funyun

New York City is made up of 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx - each one of the boroughs is considered New York City; so for instance, I live in Queens but I still live in New York City.

New York City - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I meant NYC PROPER. . . the area named New York, New York (the main island). Yes, I live here, I "get" that I live in New York City, to -- in Queens. You took my posting wrongly. And I believe the original poster, wanted to live in "the city" . . . proper. . . not in the other BOROUGHS, but the area most tourists consider NYC.

And on this note . . . When people ask me where I live in NY, I say Jackson Heights or Queens. When I lived in Chelsea and asked the same question, I said I live "in the city". Which, if you're from here, means the island of Manhattan, or New York, NY. NOT Astoria, Jackson Heights or wherever in Queens or Brooklyn. And you do live in Queens, so you know this . . .!

[AngelAura28]

Originally Posted by GRap

Just curious as to what people think the minimum income should be to really enjoy what NYC has to offer (not to just get by).

By enjoy, I mean:

have a nice, secure apartment in a great area of Manhattan. Not necessarily a luxury place, but not a total closet either.

Have enough disposable income to regularly enjoy all of the cultural offerings of the city (ie. concerts, restaurants, broadway, etc).

I have no idea what the answer might be. 70,000? 100,000?

I may move to NYC in the not too distant future, and I was just wondering what my quality of life would be in the big city.

Any insight would be appreciated.

thanks...

See? The person posted MANHATTAN and called it NYC . . . They had no interest in Queens or Brooklyn or the greater NYC area. That was my point! Geez!

[AngelAura28]

Originally Posted by AngelAura28

NYC offers . . . FREE CULTURAL EVENTS in Central Park from concerts to "Shakespeare in the Park". All free, free, free.

Museums are free with a "suggested donation" . . .but certainly, you don't have to pay it.

Theatre in NY is everything from "way off Broadway", to Off Off Broadway, Off Broadway to Broadway. You can DAILY get 1/2 price or less tickets at TKTS for Broadway shows; and there are other ways to get low-priced shows. Not forgetting the lower price of the little "way off Broadway" theatre's offering exceptional talent and very, very low prices.

As for restaurants . . . diners are fairly cheap and often opened 24 hours so you can eat pretty good food and chat with friends all night.

Thus, I know . . . you can have a GREAT LIFE in NYC with any income! An income is important, though . . . just for the Metrocard and rent. But, if you must live directly in NYC (and not Queens, Brooklyn or NJ) -- to have an apartment with any size, by yourself, and "disposable income" -- geez, you'd need to make $250,000 per year or more (Rents, in NYC, in one-bedrooms that are NOT a closet -- $2,000 to $3,000 per month). If you want to own an apartment, hmmm, they go from $1.5 million for one bedrooms and on up!

In certain parts of New Jersey, Queens or Brooklyn, you can rent a one-bedroom from about $700.00 a month to $1,500.00 and only from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to NYC.

Well, none of you noticed that I said there's lots you can do "in the city" for fun and cheap. It's just not cheap to "live in the city (I mean Manhattan as the poster talked about).

Yeah, I can accept that 1.5 million is high and way out. Depends on what you mean by room? The person said they wanted something bigger than a closet. I have friends who, like you quoted, paid $400,000 to $600,000 for a one-bedroom in Manhattan proper and they are tiny!!! And maybe I just have high price tastes? The apartment I want, which I've priced (if I buy one), is a 3-bedroom, UWS and 2.8 million! I am only 2.7 million short! LOL! And for the area I want, that was the low end price to buy. Yeah, ok, it's a three-bedroom . . . I suspect, in the same area, I was not exaggerating that a one-bedroom would be close to 1 million? It makes sense. Ok, maybe a little less . . . $750,000. It might as well be 1.5 million as far as my income is concerned.

I'm originally from a place where a three-bedroom house with a full backyard and front yard would cost $250,000, in full!

Otherwise, for those who said I'm whacked or whatever . . . I am "in the city" everyday!!! I have fun, I do not go broke and last year, I made, maybe $10,000! That is all . . . I'm an artist (Actor/Singer) and that is not unusual. I do lots of free, cheap and fun thing on that little bitty income.

I mentioned many, many cultural events that were free or low-priced, including TKTS, which someone posted AS IF I never mentioned it! But, I did!

The person said they wanted "disposable income" along with their buying a large apartment; and his/her taste seemed higher than most . . . thus, I still say, that considered, they'd need $250,000 a year [ok, maybe $200,000]. When you're from somewhere else besides NYC (i.e. Arizona, Texas, Florida, etc.); "room" means the size of a house, practically! I lived in a 10 X 10 room in Chelsea, I got a deal . . . nevertheless, this was 1992 to 1996, the average rent, in Chelsea, for a "room" the size of mine, was about $1,000 a month then. [I didn't pay that much -- but it was average]. I only imagine now, that same 10 X 10 room, in Chelsea, probably goes for, at least, $1,500 a month (and that is the size of a closet [some closets are probably bigger] for those who know measurement).

Hey, I suggest the person live in another borough . . . where they are more likely to find roomy apartments at lower rents or costs! I am in a huge three-bedroom in Queens (it's a rental and I rent one room). But, wow, my room is definitely a hell of lot larger than 10 X 10 and only $400 a month; compared to this room in Manhattan.

I read the real estate ads [in windows (at offices) from licensed real estate agents], in Manhattan, rather regularly -- the rents are SKY HIGH for studios and one-bedrooms from what I've seen . . . by the way, whoever said someone paid $2,500 for a one-bedroom; that's very close to what I said!

Again, a normal person, without high class, top-of the tower tastes; just "normal" tastes can have lots of fun, a life, etc. in Manhattan. Still, if one's income is the national average, I would say they'd have a some roommates unless they make an a lot of money. I know people making $50,000 a year and it doesn't leave too much "disposable income" as the person said they were looking for . . . in Manhattan. So, my opinion, in answer to that particular question. Not my general belief. I think it was aimed, rightly, at that sort of question.

Now, if a person said something like . . . Can I survive in NYC with $25,000 a year to $100,000. I'd say a resounding "yes!" . . . But if they wanted to live alone (on the UWS or UES and NOT Washington Heights or Harlem), and have a one-bedroom 1000 X 1000 feet, and enjoy full price Broadway shows and fancy restaurants; I know, they wouldn't make it on those low incomes. At least, not with "disposable income" in tact or high . . . !

[eslteacher]

They say you should make 48 times your monthly rent in income. You can find a decent one bedroom for $2500 you would need to make $120,000.

[Elvira Black]

Seward Park and the other high rise developments on the Lower East Side (downtown Manhattan) are still relative "bargains" if you wish to buy. The Loho Realty site lists most of them.

[mom2gurls]

Originally Posted by eslteacher

They say you should make 48 times your monthly rent in income. You can find a decent one bedroom for $2500 you would need to make $120,000.

Exactly....family member makes between 150-and 2...depending on patient load....and he is ready to bail next year.....says he has gained INVALUABLE experience being here..but there comes a point when its time to get real as well...and look at the big picture (retirement savings, future marriage)--all the "grown up stuff"...LOL.

But the city is great...just depends on what you want to do and for how long...

[Hustla718]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

Seward Park and the other high rise developments on the Lower East Side (downtown Manhattan) are still relative "bargains" if you wish to buy. The Loho Realty site lists most of them.

Yes but that area is pretty undesirable. The L.E.S. is a lot different along the river. A lot of shootings and robberies around there.

[GRap]

Thanks for all of the useful replies. Sounds like the consensus is the low 100,000s with the sky being the limit from there depending on how lavish you decide to be (which I won't be, at least not in the $300 dinners every night kind of way)...

I was specifically referring to living in Manhattan, but I suppose I wouldn't be completely opposed to investigating the other parts of NYC (queens, brooklyn, etc) if the pros of living there were substantial.

If I ended up there, I would be doing some advanced residency training and would be making about 80,000 for the first year. If I stayed on at one of the hospitals after that, my income would jump considerably into the six figure range (although I'm not sure exactly what it would be).

I am not married and have no kids. Of course, things could change over the next few years and I'm sure having kids would significantly impact one's ability to enjoy and pay for NYC's multitude of activities.

I don't think I have "high end taste", and I would for sure be taking full advantage of worthwhile free activities. But, by the time I would be out there I will be into my thirties and finally making some money after a life of school and cheap labor. Hence, I would think that I'd be ready to have a nicer place and position myself in the heart of what Manhattan is all about. I'm sure if I had gone to school or residency there, I would have done the commute/penny-pinching thing out of necessity.

Hey ViralMD, how is it out there in the big city for docs? Is it as saturated as the west coast (with a deflated relative salary to match). What's the legal environment like out there? Just curious how your experience has been if you feel at all like sharing...

If anyone feels they have anything more to offer on this topic, feel free. Thanks again...

[mom2gurls]

I am not a doc, but brother is dentist...He complains about the malpractice all the time.