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Curious. Debt aside, and not owning a vehicle. Could you live decently? By decent I mean, go out once in a while, shop once in awhile, eat out once in awhile, the neighborhood is ok, etc.
When i first moved out, I lived in Forest Hills, Queens in a 1-bedroom, not married with a car and I made $75K at that time. I went out every weekend, never cooked so ate out regularly, and was still able to save. I am also a tech junkie so occassionally wasted money on a useless toy, so i would say yes, you could. My rent was about $1,400/month.
70k HH income? Think 1750/mo rent max. depending on the borough/neighborhood, you can get anywhere from a small studio (manhattan) to small 2 bdrm (outer boroughs). everything else is probably doable.
70k HH income? Think 1750/mo rent max. depending on the borough/neighborhood, you can get anywhere from a small studio (manhattan) to small 2 bdrm (outer boroughs). everything else is probably doable.
That would be half of their take home pay. $1750 is way too high.
Curious. Debt aside, and not owning a vehicle. Could you live decently? By decent I mean, go out once in a while, shop once in awhile, eat out once in awhile, the neighborhood is ok, etc.
You can including Manhattan if you choose.
It depends primarily on if you must live alone. If you can live with a roommate it can work out easily. If not you at least have to be willing to live in a studio but that can add a lot to your rent.
You can have enough to enjoy life moderately. That means nice experiences at mid-range restaurants with an occasional high end splurge. The good news is that some of the best food is the cheapest. So many great food choices here even at the low end.
The bars are pricey, but as with everything in NYC it depends on what exactly you want. You drink after work for nearly nothing during the happy hours of certain bars to end up having nights that get into the 4 figures.
According to Paycheckcity.com with $70,000 a year, you take $3803 month. Even if you pay $1803 for rent which can be lower or higher in case you insist on living in the West Village, leaving you with $2000 a month. Or maybe $1800 after utilities. That's about $60 a day. I'm sure you can live a content existence in Manhattan with that.
It depends primarily on if you must live alone. If you can live with a roommate it can work out easily. If not you at least have to be willing to live in a studio but that can add a lot to your rent.
You can have enough to enjoy life moderately. That means nice experiences at mid-range restaurants with an occasional high end splurge. The good news is that some of the best food is the cheapest. So many great food choices here even at the low end.
The bars are pricey, but as with everything in NYC it depends on what exactly you want. You drink after work for nearly nothing during the happy hours of certain bars to end up having nights that get into the 4 figures.
According to Paycheckcity.com with $70,000 a year, you take $3803 month. Even if you pay $1803 for rent which can be lower or higher in case you insist on living in the West Village, leaving you with $2000 a month. Or maybe $1800 after utilities. That's about $60 a day. I'm sure you can live a content existence in Manhattan with that.
You might even be able to save something.
Finally, someone who doesn't say that it's impossible. I don't know what the standards are of the people on this board, but what you wrote describes me almost exactly. I make ~60K a year, live in the W.Village, go to relatively nice restaurants with the occasional splurge and have a very content life.
Finally, someone who doesn't say that it's impossible. I don't know what the standards are of the people on this board, but what you wrote describes me almost exactly. I make ~60K a year, live in the W.Village, go to relatively nice restaurants with the occasional splurge and have a very content life.
Yeah the hardest part is the temptation around here, there are so many ways to make your money disappear here. It takes a modicum of discipline. BTW, I make about the same and live in Manhattan. I live just fine. I eat well. I drink. I travel. No I'm not eating at Per Se every week, but I survive.
I must make clear here that there is a BIG difference between living here and setting up here. I benefit from having lived here for a few years. I fell upon an apartment that the landlord doesn't believe in jacking up rents and just does a modest bump every year. I know someone who pays $2200 for a 2 bedroom in the West Village (but I'm sure otherwise it would be a $3200-3500 apartment) who also has a landlord like that. So I pay below "market" as do many people who've lived here for a while. Market refers to people just coming into NYC and need to take one of the more easily found places or need to hire a broker. The cost of starting up in NYC is around $10,000. Assuming even a $2000/month studio you need cash on hand for first month, last month, and security so that's $6000. Then if you used a broker that's another $3000. If you didn't use a broker you probably stayed in a hotel for a week or two to find an apartment so you can work the Craigslist scene. But, really someone new to NYC would have a hard time of it. But it can be done.
Once you're here you can live on $70,000 easily and be very happy.
Last edited by sxr71; 08-12-2009 at 10:10 PM..
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