Is my future income OK for living in Pittbsurgh ? (Pittsburgh: rental, health insurance)

[fcmetz]

Hi everybody !

I am a french yound professional in my mid-20s and I will be transfered in Pittsburgh in next January in the US subsidiary of my current french company.

My future contract includes :
- Housing budget up to 1,150$ per month (entirely paid by the company)
- Complimentary company car
- A net income of about 1,600$ per month

The housing budget seems to be perfect according to the ads I saw on Craigslist.
But I have some doubts about my future net income as I do not really know what is the cost of living in Pittsburgh.

Do you think this amount is enough for living correctly in Pittsburgh ?

Do not worry, my decision to go to Pittsburgh does not depend on the answer ;-) I already made my decision : I love this city !

It is just in order to negotiate again with my company if necessary....

Thanks !

[BrianTH]

Generally that should be more than fine for a single mid-20s young professional in Pittsburgh, assuming you are also getting health insurance through your employer, and don't have a lot of debts you are trying to pay off.

[hagbard jones]

That's plenty to get a foothold, not enough to live high on the hog.

All depends on what kind of circumstances you're looking for. As a mortgage on a large house in a nice neighborhood, you're probably going to need a second income. As a rental payment in most neighborhoods, it's more than sufficient. As a rental payment on a larger place in the nicest neighborhoods, again, probably a little low -- but if you fancy a one-bedroom place, you won't find any neighborhood in the city out of your price range on 1150.

The net take-home will get you just about as far as any other city, once you factor out housing.

[Blackbeauty212]

The Housing Budget you could live damn near anywhere you wanted in the Burgh...Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Downtown, The Strip, SouthSide...You name it.

Now the Salary 1600 a month is doable with some budgeting....Pittsburgh is consider cheap because of the Housing Cost are low....but everyday necessities and luxuries Pittsburgh is just like any other big city 1600 a month is not going to leave enough to splurge....2000$ would've been better.

Question is the Housing Credit including your Utilities or will that need to come from your salary.....if you can put the Utilities onto the credit then I would look for something a considerably less than the full Housing Credit so that you can squeeze the rent and the Utilities out of the credit.

In that case look at Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, SouthSide Slopes, Friendship/East Liberty areas.

BTW Welcome to the Burgh!

[BrianTH]

I'd also look at putting as many utilities into that housing budget as possible. And I am assuming the company car covers insurance and maintenance, but does it also include fuel?

Anyway, if you can pack almost all your housing, utilities, and transportation costs into the company-paid categories, I stand by $1600/month net being quite a bit for Pittsburgh. A basic food budget (not including eating out) for one person should only be around $200/month. Say you have around $200/month in various media/communication bills as well (internet, TV, phone, and so forth). That leaves around $1200/month for savings plus clothing, entertainment, and so on. That's pretty good for Pittsburgh--note this is not a town where all the drinks in the nicer places cost over $10, everyone is wearing the latest fashions, and so forth.

[Blackbeauty212]

Brian i think you being a bit modest cable and internet will be approx 120 bill alone...cell phne if she stuck in contract provider her cost is probably near 100$.......Pittsburgh may not be pretentous but good clothes will cost.....and 200$ for food...wheres she shopping not @ whole foods or Giant Eagle.....

Lets be honest 1600 is going to require some budgeting even in the burgh.....its cheap but not that cheap....2k a month is pretty much net you need outisde of housing cost to live comfortably..

And if she cant put Utilities on the housing budget.....oh boy that 1600 is really going be squeeze.....

[ferrarisnowday]

I don't know whether this thread should make me feel really poor, or really frustrated that everyone is saying OPs budget might be tight. I net a little under $2K/month, and I pay all of my housing and car costs, as well as student loans. And I still have money for entertainment and savings (I will concede that my entertainment is on a budget, but it's not like I'm stuck with the options of going for a jog or building a snowman).

OP, you should be more than fine. Even if you are paying for utilities and gasoline, you should still have quite a bit left over for fun or paying off debt or whatever. The only thing you might want to consider, is how often do you plan to head back to France? That could be a big money-sink.

I'm seriously having some trouble understanding where you guys are coming from? Even if he spends $100 a month on car gasoline (assuming it's not free) or a bus pass, and another $500 on food (which is a pretty high estimate), he has $1,000 to spend on whatever the heck he pleases. Unless he has loads of debt to pay off, or is trying to fly back to France every month or two, that is a boat load of expendable cash.

[Blackbeauty212]

It depends on your situation.....do pay you own cell phone cable internet bills as well as utilites....were do you shop for clothes and groceries...how often do you like go out every weekend or once a month...

again my notion is living comfortably totally self independant and having a free cash flow until next payday...... 800 every two weeks....living on a strict budget yes its doable but i dont consider such budgeting to be "living comfortable".....

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I don't know whether this thread should make me feel really poor, or really frustrated that everyone is saying OPs budget might be tight. I net a little under $2K/month, and I pay all of my housing and car costs, as well as student loans. And I still have money for entertainment and savings (I will concede that my entertainment is on a budget, but it's not like I'm stuck with the options of going for a jog or building a snowman).

OP, you should be more than fine. Even if you are paying for utilities and gasoline, you should still have quite a bit left over for fun or paying off debt or whatever. The only thing you might want to consider, is how often do you plan to head back to France? That could be a big money-sink.

I'm seriously having some trouble understanding where you guys are coming from? Even if he spends $100 a month on car gasoline (assuming it's not free) or a bus pass, and another $500 on food (which is a pretty high estimate), he has $1,000 to spend on whatever the heck he pleases. Unless he has loads of debt to pay off, or is trying to fly back to France every month or two, that is a boat load of expendable cash.

Cosign.

I clear about $2400 bucks a month and I live quite comfortably. I have all of the amenities too (smartphone, internet, cable, etc.) and pay all of my bills in full and on time. Granted, living in a crappy neighborhood really helps with housing costs, but living here in the Burgh leaves you with more than enough room to play around with financially.

What do people on here throw their money into? I have a ton of hobbies that I support too with no problems. The only time I seem to get into a financial jam is when I have medical problems, but my views on that situation are best kept in another thread.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I don't know whether this thread should make me feel really poor, or really frustrated that everyone is saying OPs budget might be tight.

Seriously. I was thinking I needed to ask for a raise. I have about $1400 net a month leftover after paying my mortgage and all utility bills, and I'm never broke and have a savings. And I'm a girl who likes to buy shoes.