Cost of Living in OC (Orange: apartment, for rent, student loans)

[wiza]

I have a job offer in Orange, would be moving from Denver, and I'm trying to consider what I've been offered.

I would be looking to get a one-bedroom apartment and just providing for myself as far as food/utilities/other expenses. Health benefits do come with the job. I'm not a particularly spendy person, but I do have a decent chunk of student loans to be repaying (as much as $900 or so per month).

I'm just wondering what would be a sort of "minimum" salary to live comfortably there or in one of the surrounding towns.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Using the gross pay = 3x your rent rule, and $1200/mo for rent, and adding enough gross pay so that you'll net enough to cover $900/mo student loans, I get $58k/yr.

[killer2021]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Using the gross pay = 3x your rent rule, and $1200/mo for rent, and adding enough gross pay so that you'll net enough to cover $900/mo student loans, I get $58k/yr.

Yea that is about right. Here is a rough estimate

1,200 for rent = 14,400
900 loan payment = 10,800
300 for food = 3,600
100 for utilities = 1,200
200 for automotive expense = 2400

total: 32.4k

A gross salary of 45k will give you 32.5k after taxes.

To live comfortably probably 55k for your situation. Which will give you about 5-6k to do whatever you want with.

[wiza]

Thanks very much both of you! That's a big help!