income needed to enjoy NYC (rental, utilities, to live in)

[whatsleftofbrooklyn]

Bottom Line.... 100k a year TAKE HOME, not gross.

[choctawmicmac]

I was told by someone who was retired from the NYC School Board that on a New York public teacher's starting salary ($37,000) I would have to live in Brooklyn and have a roommate. This is, to make ends meet. Luckily the life of a public school teacher isn't all that high-maintenance. I make my own clothes (or I re-make used ones from Salvation Army and charities) and cook from scratch (when I have kitchen facilities). Books from the public library are my idea of entertainment. Also CDs, videos and DVDs.

Doesn't everything depend on what kind of lifestyle you intend to maintain, anyway?!

[Chi2NYC?]

Originally Posted by choctawmicmac

Doesn't everything depend on what kind of lifestyle you intend to maintain, anyway?!

yes. as a general rule, posters to internet forums (including me) take for granted their own personal preferences/context and argue as if their own perspective is the "right" one. opinions seem most useful when you make your situation explicit, as you did.

my needs are relatively simple as well, and i know i'll be reasonably happy in nyc on 10k post-housing/utilities.

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by choctawmicmac

I was told by someone who was retired from the NYC School Board that on a New York public teacher's starting salary ($37,000)

As of the new contract, starting teachers salary is $45,000. With the new contract too, teachers will now retire with over $100k. It's predicted that in the future, teachers will retire at 150k.

[Hustla718]

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work...-6-Figure-Jobs

[NickL28]

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.

48 Times your monthly income isn't just a suggestion, it is usually a requirement (your annual be at least 45-50 times the monthly rent mostly anywhere in the 5 boros) and you need something like a 720+ FICO score just to be approved for an apartment.

And low 100's is probably the minimum just to get by assuming you are single without kids. If you like to go out, socialize & are a trend *****, then I would recommend at least $300,000 or more for a single person.

[INeedAChange]

I would say 100K to feel comfortable. You have the right idea--go with Manhattan. If you live in the outer boroughs you'll just end up with the worst of both worlds, believe me.

[Elvira Black]

Originally Posted by Hustla718

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.

I lived there for 15 years and didn't find it unsafe. My 90 year old aunt has lived on the LES her whole life without incident. The area has been developing rapidly esp above Delancey Street--lots of bars, clubs, etc. Plus a bunch of luxe coops and hotels, etc have been recently constructed in the area.

To be fair, I didn't live in one of the buildings right near the river, so it may be more sketchy there, and farther from the subway for sure.

[Hustla718]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

I lived there for 15 years and didn't find it unsafe. My 90 year old aunt has lived on the LES her whole life without incident. The area has been developing rapidly esp above Delancey Street--lots of bars, clubs, etc. Plus a bunch of luxe coops and hotels, etc have been recently constructed in the area.

To be fair, I didn't live in one of the buildings right near the river, so it may be more sketchy there, and farther from the subway for sure.

I'm talking about the area along the East River (Avenue D and east). There are always shootings and robberies there, area is hot for drugs.

[EugeneBKLYN]

The darker the pink, the more enjoyable it gets.

Note how the richest people of the city live adjacent to Central Park.

The 2 pink areas in Brooklyn are Park Slope and DUMBO.

The gray and light shades of blue on the map indicate the people who wake up every morning and bust their ass, 9-5+.