Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My significant other got a job offer for a government position in Queens. She also got one here locally in Virginia, however the one in NY has a higher earning potential (over the course of her career).
For the first year, the one in Queens starts off at like $53K, while the one here in VA starts off at $51K. Question is, is she better off going to NY? Second year, is where she has the chance to get about 10K raise if she took the job offer in NY. She'll be living alone, will have some school debt, she has a car.
Will she be starving the first year if she went to NY?
Thanks.
Edit: Obviously, I don't want her to leave, but the first year, the 2K in salary differential doesn't make a difference I feel. It's not enough to uproot your entire life.
Last edited by bmwguydc; 11-03-2013 at 09:33 PM..
Reason: Post relocated to own thread for better responses
Where in Virginia did she get the offer? If it is NOVA, she will find costs of living to be somewhat similar to NYC, though will have to pay city resident income tax if living within the five boroughs. And, car insurance will also be significantly higher, and can vary widely by borough, with Brooklyn having some of the highest rates in the city. Manhattan is an exception as the housing cost will be higher, as will costs of everything from groceries to household goods, but the costs in Queens, for example, are much better, overall.
Parking is also a cost to be considered because it is not common for it to be included at most NYC apartments. Even if a building offers parking, there is no guarantee that you can immediately get a space without a waiting list. It depends upon neighborhood and building, and can be significant ($400+ in Manhattan, for example). In an outerborough, off-street parking is less expensive, though a garage would likely cost ~$200/month.
So, initially, she would be spending more of her paycheck on living expenses, but if the career track offers more advancement in NYC, she may be better off taking the NYC position and transferring after a couple of years, should a more senior post be available where she wants to live. For $2k, I would not recommend it, at all, but if it means at year 5, she is earning $20k more than the similar position, it could be worth it.
__________________
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
