monthly living expense for a family in New Jersey (Edison: apartment, lease)

[daisyhere]

Hi,I'm from India.My husband got a job in Edison,NJ.I would like to know the monthly living expense(rent,phone,cable,internet,travel,food) for a family of two(myself and my husband) hope some body will help me

[CJ-FROM-NJ]

for 2 people approximately:

rent- $1000-$1400 it varies depending where you live
car- depends what kind - to lease an Nissan Ultima $260-290 a month and the insurance depends on you
food - $400 a month not including lunches if you eat out
phone- $60 a month
cellphone - $100 a month
cable - $150 a month I have all the channels

[griffit34]

optimum has a nice deal for 1st time customers $95 for cable, phone, and internet access. It only lasts a yr but its nice to have one bill.
MY:
Rent $1100
Electric $50
Car + Ins is $470
so i spend $1700-$1800 a month on nessesities
Now add gas, food, going out to dinner with the wife.
It adds up, but i think i'm an average example for you.

[AudioDon]

Originally Posted by CJ-FROM-NJ

for 2 people approximately:

rent- $1000-$1400 it varies depending where you live
car- depends what kind - to lease an Nissan Ultima $260-290 a month and the insurance depends on you
food - $400 a month not including lunches if you eat out
phone- $60 a month
cellphone - $100 a month
cable - $150 a month I have all the channels

This is a good start, but least we not forget the "nickel and dimes" we pay!
If you're in Edison and want to go anywhere, you will give $20-40 a month to use the Garden State Parkinglot.
$100 - car registration
$50 - drivers licsence
$2,000 - year of auto insurance
100 - per month electric

just to name a few incidentals

[ninigo]

you also need to consider that you probably have no credit history (if you are new to US from india). therefore you may have complications with getting a car loan/cellphone. With no driving history, your insurance will be high. just additional things to consider.

[christina0001]

My husband and I live in between Trenton and Princeton...our rent is probably a bit cheaper than what you will find in Edison. About 1/3 of our income goes to taxes.
Rent: $855/month for a 2 bedroom apartment. Had to do a lot of searching to find one this cheap, but we did, and it's quite nice, in a very safe neighborhood. It's also in a very good school district.
Cost of water is included.
Electric: $50 - $100/month (cheaper in fall/spring as there's no need to use heat or air conditioning)
Cable TV + Cable internet: $94/month
Telephone: $75/month
Groceries + household shopping: $200-$250/month
Eating out: $250/month (we eat out 1-2x week)
Recreation: $75/month
Use of laundry machines: $20/month
Medical insurance: $450/month for both of us (which is unusually high - unfortunately my husband doesn't qualify for coverage at his job yet and I work for a small, healthcare agency that offers a great plan, low deductible, but very high premium. When my husband qualifies for coverage at his job, it will cost about $100/month.)
We have no car payment; we purchase cars when they are a few years old and drive them until they are about dead. We pay cash - no loans necessary.
Gas for cars: maybe $30/week? Our cars are small, 4 cylinder, and we each fill up less than once per week. Gas in NJ right now is $1.93 - $2.17/gallon, depending on where you are at.
Car insurance: $2000/year. We have total coverage on our newer car (it's a 2003) and basic coverage on the older car (it's a 2000). We have clean drivers' records, no tickets, no accidents.
We do not have cell phones. IMO having both a cell phone and a landline is a waste of money and unnecessary, at least for us. We do not talk on the telephone that much, and if we are not at home, we are too busy to talk on the phone!
As for traveling, that can vary immensely, based on your preferences. We go away about 2x a year, usually 1 big trip and 1 smaller getaway. Our next trip will be in the spring, just a weekend getaway to a bed and breakfast in the Poconos. It'll probably cost us about $400 for the room, gas to drive there, eating out, etc.
Best of luck.

[siliboy]

Hi, I am from India. I have got a job in Milwaukee area & would be shifting with my wife.

I would like to know the monthly living expense (Rent, Phone, Cable, Internet, Travel, Food, Fuel) for a family of two (myself and my wife)

Thanks for your help.....

[viralparikh]

Hi All,

i am getting a Job in Warren NJ, and the Salary is 5000 USD pm. Please can any one help me with the Living expenses and Taxes.

Also if anyone has any info on where i can get shared appartment on rent will be great. As of now i am planning to come alone for about 6 months and if i feel its good may consider to move with family

Thanks

[dhanu86]

I went to a vegetarian indian restaurant a few days ago. Vegetarian restaurants seem to make Indian food better and more fresh. That pav bhaji looks deliicious.