What would you consider expensive rent? (Pittsburgh, California: calculator, salary, taxes)

[prnlvsxy]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I'm sorry, but if I could choose to spend $2,000/month to rent a nice apartment in a nice trendy neighborhood of Pittsburgh or the same for a nice trendy neighborhood of Seattle, Portland, Denver, L.A., NYC, SF Bay Area, etc., then guess where I'd be living?

Pittsburgh's competitive advantage and "edge" has always been its incredible bang-for-your-buck factor, which is waning. Once that's gone many of us will no longer see any reason to stay here and will be packing our bags, adding to the population loss even more. If I'm going to struggle to pay the rent somewhere I'd rather do it in a city with better weather, nicer people, better career advancement opportunities, less resistance to bike lanes, Syrian refugees, and "the gays", better air quality, less of an obsession with the NFL, etc. I moved to Pittsburgh because I wanted "safe, cheap, walkable, pretty". If "safe, walkable, and pretty" is now going to be coming at a premium in Pittsburgh, then why stay? Save $200/month in rent to move to Fineview, Beechview, or Knoxville, and hope they become more walkable in a few years?

$2,000 a month for rent is insane for someone making 100k, let alone 40k. If you can't find a nice place for 1/2 that, then you're not looking hard enough or you have unrealistic standards.

As for staying here, Pittsburgh's competitive advantage is and has always been it's people, not it's bang-for-your-buck. If there's some reason why you can't see that, then maybe Pittsburgh isn't for you.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by prnlvsxy

$2,000 a month for rent is insane for someone making 100k, let alone 40k. If you can't find a nice place for 1/2 that, then you're not looking hard enough or you have unrealistic standards.

As for staying here, Pittsburgh's competitive advantage is and has always been it's people, not it's bang-for-your-buck. If there's some reason why you can't see that, then maybe Pittsburgh isn't for you.

hard to feel bad for the city hoppers that don't want to tie down roots to a community.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by crae09

I personally would not pay $1,000 for a 2 bedroom Apartment. I'd rather live somewhere cheaper for a year and use the savings as a down payment on a home. I am actually "window shopping" apartments and my price range is 750. I'm searching for a one bedroom but if I find a 2 bedroom i'll be happy. If I had a child and was forced to rent I would say no more than 800 in rent for 2 bedroom. but yea 1k for an APARTMENT is cray.

I haven't paid less than $1000 for a 2br since Clinton was in office. This is a really outdated view of rental markets.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by prnlvsxy

$2,000 a month for rent is insane for someone making 100k, let alone 40k. If you can't find a nice place for 1/2 that, then you're not looking hard enough or you have unrealistic standards.

As for staying here, Pittsburgh's competitive advantage is and has always been it's people, not it's bang-for-your-buck. If there's some reason why you can't see that, then maybe Pittsburgh isn't for you.

What makes the people of Pittsburgh different from other similarly sized cities?

[prnlvsxy]

Originally Posted by gladhands

I haven't paid less than $1000 for a 2br since Clinton was in office. This is a really outdated view of rental markets.

I don't know, I just spent about 2 minutes on craigslist and found a bunch. (This is the first 5 of many)

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/6054846232.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/6080014227.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/6056396377.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/6056369795.html
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/6083660664.html

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by prnlvsxy

$2,000 a month for rent is insane for someone making 100k, let alone 40k. If you can't find a nice place for 1/2 that, then you're not looking hard enough or you have unrealistic standards.

As for staying here, Pittsburgh's competitive advantage is and has always been it's people, not it's bang-for-your-buck. If there's some reason why you can't see that, then maybe Pittsburgh isn't for you.

Who makes a decision to stay based on the people?

Why would you think the people here are better than other cities?

[prnlvsxy]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Who makes a decision to stay based on the people?

Why would you think the people here are better than other cities?

My wife, for one. She grew up in Southern California and has said repeatedly that the people that she meets and interacts with are infinitely nicer than where she grew up.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by prnlvsxy

$2,000 a month for rent is insane for someone making 100k, let alone 40k. If you can't find a nice place for 1/2 that, then you're not looking hard enough or you have unrealistic standards.

As for staying here, Pittsburgh's competitive advantage is and has always been it's people, not it's bang-for-your-buck. If there's some reason why you can't see that, then maybe Pittsburgh isn't for you.

2K a month is 24K a year. Its certainly not insane for someone making 100K (or only 50K each for a working couple, or roommate). Maybe they just have higher standards of 'nice', or want to be in a popular area. Some also do not have cars, so they save a lot of money on that in exchange for paying extra to be in very walkable areas. General financial guidelines say not to spend more than 28-33% (depending on who you ask) on rent or mortgage.

[prnlvsxy]

Originally Posted by _Buster

2K a month is 24K a year. Its certainly not insane for someone making 100K (or only 50K each for a working couple, or roommate). Maybe they just have higher standards of 'nice', or want to be in a popular area. Some also do not have cars, so they save a lot of money on that in exchange for paying extra to be in very walkable areas. General financial guidelines say not to spend more than 28-33% (depending on who you ask) on rent or mortgage.

100k after taxes is roughly 4800/month. 2000 is 42% of that.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by prnlvsxy

100k after taxes is roughly 4800/month. 2000 is 42% of that.

The recommendation is of your gross income. That's before taxes. Its 24% of that. sheesh.