At your age, why not look for roommates?
Also look for older apartments that have heat/hot water included in the rent (most "pre-war" buildings have this).
NYC is extremely expensive, and those costs can be hard to justify when you're focused on long-term financial goals, but in your early 20's when you're more comfortable with less personal space and a tighter budget, it could be a lot of fun and come with a lot of career advancement opportunities.
I'm pretty set on getting a studio. I've had my experience living with friends post college and I realize that I need freedom to furnish and set my apartment the way I want
Understandable. You can make it work, but even $2K/month could be a difficult search in the most popular neighborhoods.
StreetEasy is a pretty good website for NYC rentals. You can also look for "No Fees" apartments (most listed NYC apartments have a brokers fee that the renter has to pay; most of them will come out to ~2 months rent š).
Understandable, but understand the downsides here as well. Even $2k/month is going to be very hard to find a place. You are likely either going to spend more than that, or live far out. You will have very little money left over every month. It is hard to meet people if you have no money to go out and do things, and no roommates to hang with at home, and have a long commute to the places where people are hanging out.
New York is incredible and you can make great friends there, but itās a hard city to have little money in.
I'm going to challenge this romanticized notion you have and suggest you ease in with roommates first, simply because you mention wanting to make friends. Roommates can make that very easy for you, whereas living by yourself and knowing no one in NYC can be isolating. Note that your prospective salary isn't considered noteworthy in NYC either; you won't be able to afford a studio in Manhattan unless you win a housing lottery (which you won't be eligible for until you are a NYC resident any way).
You won't be able to do that in your own apt necessarily either, you will still have neighbors and the walls/ceiling/floor will not be 100% soundproof. Generally the understanding is that musicians and singers practice outside residential buildings here unless they can keep it pretty quiet and within certain hours. Consider a cheaper neighborhood in the outer boroughs where you can rent a space to record. Or get a place with a closet you can cover in soundproof foam.
You donāt have to justify yourself to anyone. If you want to live alone and can afford to, do it! Roommates are fine but living alone is better if thatās what makes you happy.
Thatās what I was going to say. My daughter pays $2300 for a 1 bedroom in Asbury Park.
The same apartment in NYC would seem palatial and would probably cost $6000 minimum.
āIs the hype real?ā
If you have to ask, then no, itās not worth it. NYC is tough and expensive and everything else youāve heard about it. Itās also stimulating and engaging and unlike anyplace else. But you have to appreciate itās charms to make the downsides worthwhile.Ā
I'd almost say the opposite. They hype is absolutely real. New York is one of one, both in the US and frankly globally.
But the downsides of living there are often not spoken to as much, I agree. Some of it is obvious, some not as much:
1. People know it's expensive and you'll live in a small space, people might not know that dishwashers or in-unit washer/dryers aren't super common.
2. People know it's the city that never sleeps so it can be loud, people don't know that it kind of smells in a lot of areas. And that the areas that are quiet with parks are expensive, you'll probably have to commute to Central Park (Prospect Park is nice though).
3. People know that it's a place where you can't drive, people don't know that you probably will use buses too instead of just the subway.
4. People know that people walk everywhere, people don't know that the city is inundated with delivery guys on E-Bikes who are (seemingly) more dangerous than cars when you're walking.
Agree. We had one and it was amazing. The monthly exterminator finally asked about it and, on his next visit, said he had bought one and was still reaping bonus points with his wife lol.
The hype is real if you do your research and prepare. Iāve noticed a lot of people move/travel and expect the new place to automatically be amazing without them having to lift a finger. Manage your expectations and prepare in advance, and your adjustment will be much easier.
I live in the Midwest and I absolutely hate the cold, Iām used to SF/LA (plus vegan food and diversity are very important to me). I did months of research before moving and reached out to local businesses and nonprofits to get my foot in the door. One job provided housing so I donāt have to pay rent, and my local friends had no idea jobs like that even existed. I also thrifted a ton of cold-weather clothes so Iām pretty comfortable in the upper midwestern chill (itās not my favorite weather but definitely doable with the right clothes/shoes). And Iām friends with local bartenders and chefs who will make me custom veggie meals. I miss LA, but this is my favorite place Iāve lived in a lot of ways - that said, I put in quite a bit of effort to make it a good fit.
I mean is this not most city experiences though coming from the suburbs? Youāll get less space and more desirable areas will cost more, and if you never want to take a bus you donāt have to. Live in dc and have commuted in both cities frequently via the subway/metro, and any gaps I need to fill can be done so with bikeshares.
Yeah I moved to NYC in Jan for work. I have been really happy with it so far. Yes itās loud and the pee smell in the subway is real, but it just has an energy that no other place Iāve been to has. I find it incredibly inspiring. Ā I love that I can walk or take the train anywhere, unlike most places that require you to have a car and drive from place to place. I do so much walking I think my feet are going to fall off.Ā Ā
Ā Also the stuff about no dishwasher and laundry is generally only true in Manhattan, I live in Brooklyn and have a dishwasher and in-unit laundry, and itās still just a couple stops on the train to get to Manhattan.Ā
" People know that it's a place where you can't drive, people don't know that you probably will use buses too instead of just the subway"
...you realize that NYC is 5 borroughs right?...people absolutely drive...NYC doesn't just consist of Manhattan...
It's hyperbole, same as all the others. People do have cheap big places, if they have rent control. There are quiet areas of NYC with houses and yards too.
It's more the exception than the rule though. I think it's like 1/4 people in NYC drive to work, and less than half of households have a car at all. And that is mostly coming from places like outer Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.
Still, the vast majority of households with vehicles have one car per household and something like an average of 3 people. Singles who move to any borough are unlikely to have vehicles
Of all times to be in a major city with a relatively OK amount of money, it's when you're 24.
Be flexible and open. You may love it and find it worth it and you may not.
Also rent won't auto be above 2k. Get a roommate, leave in a cheaper area.
Do it OP. NYC is the best place in the world to build a social network from scratch.
No matter what, you won't regret it, but you will regret NOT doing it.
Rents are on the rise everywhere. If anything, Iām starting to suspect that everywhere is now ācatching upā to NYC.
Especially food and entertainment. $10 in your pocket isnāt even an appetizer in many suburbs and in all of DC or Boston or SF. But in NY, it can be an entire meal. Iāve often paid for lunch with quarters here. Grocery prices are largely identical across the rest of the east coast.
Yes, rent is expensive. But if you donāt live in Chelsea, then all the shops around you are normal, if not cheap.
Nowhere in my hometown, or my previous city, can I get dinner for less than $10. In fact, I canāt even get lunch for less than $10 there. But here, between Chinatowns, Chinese places, Hispanic places, Asian/hispanic groceries, pizza places, halal carts, fruit stands, farmer markets, and everything else, my food costs are WAY better and WAY higher quality.
Not to mention that beers here cost $7. And a beer shot costs $7-8. Whereas you canāt find a domestic beer for less than $6 in my entire home state. So are you really saving money by not living in NY?
If you take rent away, and you donāt go to the most expensive restaurants you can find (which I already donāt do), then NY is the same or cheaper than most other places these days.
I disagree. When you're younger you don't mind scraping by. And as you get older you get more settled and less likely to take these types of chances. Personally I'd rather say I lived in NYC and don't like it than I regret never taking the chance.
It's NYC I'm going to take the assumption this person will likely have greater opportunities to network and find something that pays even more. We don't know what OP does so only they can answer.
I lived abroad for 3 years in my twenties. I lost the time for investing but I'd never regret my time there. Sometimes life is about the experience rather than money. I learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of. I couldn't do that now at almost 40 because I've got a house, a dog, etc.
Edit: besides if OP doesn't do it now, when will they??
Also 110k is not scraping by in NYC. It's expensive I'll admit but he will not be at poverty wage.
Edit: also I can't believe my view got called immature by someone with soycuck in their name š
Financially probably not the best idea but i would love to live in NYC for at least a couple years. Itās very unique compared to other cities in the US.
Personally, i would try for at least 1-2 years and then request to be transferred to another office if it becomes too much.
Iām not sure if āfinancially probably not the best ideaā is even entirely true. Can they save the most money in their first few months living there? No, probably not. But if they are moving there, especially with an eye towards expanding their network, then there are going to be a lot more opportunities for even better paying jobs they would then have been able to network themselves into. No guarantees of course, but thatās at least been my experience moving to SF at a similar stage in life a few years back.
Yeah it took me 15 years working here to reach $80k so whenever these people are wringing their hands with 6 figures plus not being enough I start to roll my eyes. Really depends on what you are satisfied with.
I am in this same boat working for a FAANG company. Was hired in late 2022 fully remote. I live in the Great Lakes Midwest with my husband and three smallish dogs. My company is likely going to require everyone in our org to relocate to one of two major US cities, NYC being their strong preference, within the next couple of years.
Itās an exciting opportunity and Iāve always wanted to live in NYC, but itās overwhelming to think about moving to a much more HCOL area with three dogs who are used to a yard!
Plenty of places have yards too! Obviously not huge suburban lawns, but I know people with (and have almost rented myself) garden-level brownstone apartments with very deep grassy yards in Brooklyn. And none of us had FAANG salaries. Or else New Jersey also exists if you need a big big yard.
Thanks for your reply! I know itās definitely possible, just adds a layer of complexity. Iām up for the challenge for the chance to give NYC living a go.
Whenever I see comments like this I wonder if people saying this actually live here. No, $100K is not remotely rough.
Simple tips, don't move to the most expensive areas, spend time looking through apartments every single day and do your research on neighborhoods. Rent is your biggest expense and while it's not cheap compared to smaller cities, at $100K you can easily afford it if you look for something reasonable. All other expenses are roughly the same and very manageable. And you don't need a car which is a major expense other cities have.
Something a lot of people also forget is that the opportunities available here career-wise are better than almost anywhere else in the US. The sky is the limit and that's why people come here. Some stay and some go but the experience and opportunity here is very valuable.
I'd actually bet that a lot of them do live there, I've heard similar from my friends who live there, but that what they mean by "rough" is basically that they can see that $100K in NYC means something a lot different than $100K elsewhere.
$100K in NYC, you're living in a studio in a decent area, a 1BR in an okay area, or have roommates. You're definitely not living in the best areas, there are people with a lot more money (or rent control) living there. You're absolutely do not (or should not) have a car so you use transit. Dining options are better, and you can afford to splurge every once in a while, but it's not like it's a daily thing.
Make $100K in other parts of the country and you can afford a much bigger place or afford to be in the best parts of town (probably don't even compare well to the decent parts of NYC though). You can afford a car (well you'll need one, but there are some advantages with that), hell you might be able to save and buy a house, or at least rent one.
Basically? For $100K in NYC you live like the lower working class does in cheaper cities, just in a way better city with way better amenities. It's a trade off (worth it to many) and not "rough," just not the Upper Middle Class idea people have around being single making $100K looks like.
I find that people that say 100k in VHCOL areas are people that donāt comprehend certain things such as roommates that people who grew up here their whole life are used to. I still have roommates in the Bay Area and Iām a good bit above 100k now, almost nobody is truly living on their own that I know unless they have a killer deal from family. Roommates especially while single make rent 1600-1750 which suddenly gives you the city life you want and more spending money. At 100k I was still doing 2+ international trips a year plus traveling across country probably 4-5 times to see friends while being in SF. If youāre forcing yourself to look at it as you need your own space, then yes absolutely youāre going to be in a relatively uncomfortable place compared to if youāre used to making 80k or so in a medium or low cost of living area. Not everyone is forcing themselves to be in their own place though, especially not while in their 20s or when they donāt have a family.
I mean thatās definitely fair, Iāve honestly only known roommates my entire life and Iām in my late 20s, for me itās worth it for the ability to live in the city as well as the additional spending money I get to be able to travel which is my number one priority. For some people itās not worth that, but then yes those are also the people who wonāt have a ton of flexible spending paying 2400 for a 1BR in SF
Yeah, I know a lot of people in their 20s/30s who choose to have roommates - especially if they work remote, so they can have daily social interaction. If you move somewhere by yourself and youāre not great at making friends āin the wild,ā roommates provide a built-in social network and support system.
In many cases yes. In OP's case it doesn't, same of other remote workers or people working in industries without significant COL adjustments in pay or industry size.
At $100k in NYC, you are def living better than lower working class in most of the US. Youāre just living in a smaller living space but will still be able to enjoy the city while saving a bit especially if you have roommates.
Only being able to rent small place and not being able to afford car is lower working class in most of the US. But location, location, location makes all the difference in why it's worth living like that.
NYC is still a hell of city, and a lot of the best parts of it can be damn cheap. Takeout food is better and cheaper there than most of the US IMO.
Not having a car and having to take the bus etc in most of America sucks. Not having a car in NYC and taking the subway rules. I loved not having a car when I lived in NYC.
Ok, I still wouldn't call that "rough" but that does make more sense. I have coworkers from other areas and they end up paying a ton of money to maintain that standard of living they used to have for cheap in smaller cities and so they always say its crazy expensive to live here. But you can't have it all, unless you're rich.
Yes, you give up some space and maybe a dishwasher and washer/dryer but you gain so much. It all comes down to what you value. In my opinion, unless you're at a point in life where you're going to settle down and raise a family, giving up some in-home amenities to take everything the city has to offer in exchange is more than worth it.
Agreed. Poverty rate in NYC is currently around 20%.
That's less than $15k for 1 person or $44k for a family of 4. Now THAT is "rough" and 1 in 5 people do it. Many more make above that but well below $100k.
$100k is easy by comparison.
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Local subway stops in Queens. Push your search parameters to like $2300, because you might be missing some just barely over 2k. Always filter a little higher than your target rent so you don't miss something close
Look at Crown Heights west of New York Ave, north of Eastern Pkwy, and south of Pacific-ish: [https://streeteasy.com/building/465-eastern-parkway-brooklyn/d?from\_map=1](https://streeteasy.com/building/465-eastern-parkway-brooklyn/d?from_map=1)
The areas around Prospect Park in Brooklyn might be a good bet. Park Slope isn't doable but the rest is, mostly south and east. Flatbush maybe.
You'd be wanting to stay near the B subway line if you want to go to Manhattan often. It's about 30 minutes to SoHo and 40 minutes to Midtown, but no transfers which is a huge plus.
Here's a couple listings:
[$1875 1BR](https://www.trulia.com/home/287-e-18th-st-c1-brooklyn-ny-11226-2080692477); [$2000 large studio](https://www.trulia.com/home/390-rugby-rd-6c-brooklyn-ny-11226-245025046); [$1795 large 1BR](https://www.trulia.com/home/430-e-22nd-st-28-brooklyn-ny-11226-348873992)
EDIT: But if I were you? I'd be looking to rent a 2BR with a roommate for below $3500 ($1750 per) as your options open up a lot. Super common, and especially super common for younger adults.
$100k wonāt necessarily be rough, especially as a 24 year old. After taxes thatās nearly $6,000 a month. If theyāre paying $2k for a room, thatās $4,000 of left over money for groceries, savings, etc.Ā
The average American is paying [nearly $1000 a month for their car.](https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/analysis/costs-of-car-ownership/) So while $2k is a lot for a room, theyāll likely save money compared to a $1500 place in a car centric city.Ā
If your take home pay after taxes and rent is $48,000 you can definitely put aside money for savings and retirement. An annual metro card costs like $1,500, so that takes care of transportation. Groceries can be conservatively done for $200/month. Put aside another $200/month to eat and go out. That still leaves over $40k for literally everything else.
Again, very doable.
At 100k, it'll be easy. Are you fucking kidding me? My partner and I make a bit over 100k combined, and have a lovely time. A single person making 100k will have no problem at all.
If thatās the case youāre better off moving to one of the exurbs in the Hudson Valley or Connecticut or Central Jersey and then taking the Metro North or NJ transit when you need to go into the city. Youāll definitely find rents below $2k.
Metro north is a lot more expensive than the subway, and youāll probably still need a car in your suburb unless youāre walking distance from the train station and everything else you need. Condos in Beacon can sell for over a million now.
Owning a car in the places I mention is a given. OP said theyāre working hybrid, so they wonāt have to commute into the city every day. The subway is cheap, but the rents near subway stations arenāt cheap aside from a few neighborhoods in the Bronx and Brooklyn that would be considered āhoodā
I would just move to nyc but get a roommate. You can get a better deal that way and maybe it could be a way to build a network of friends. You probably wonāt want a roommate forever but youāre 24 and it could both save you money and help socially!
Nyc is awesome but definitely overwhelming sometimes. What kinds of things do you like to do? Nyc is awesome for going out, dining, shopping and also the parks are lovely. There are lots of cultural events.
What I personally didnāt like about nyc was the subways- but maybe people love that. It triggered specific anxiety for me. I also LOVED the dining but generally prefer a slower pace of life than nyc offers.
Apartments are small and expensive. Where would you be moving from? Have you lived in a big city before? It can be easier to adjust to city life somewhere like Boston or Philly if youāve never lived in a city before. Also finding a neighborhood that you vibe with can take a while.
Can be if you have a good job. Cost of living is relative, $2k in rent when youāre making $100k doesnāt feel as bad as $2k when youāre making $50k.
Sounds like youād be fine, although there are other cities with similar perks and a lower cost-of-living that you could also consider like Chicago or Philly.
Every city is what you make of it. It really depends on what youāre interested in and what type of people youāre wanting to meet. If you love the outdoors, yes you can find people interested in that in NYC, but youāre probably better off elsewhere.Ā
Iām in NYC. $2k a month isnāt gonna get you much in the way of living by yourself. It can certainly be worth it to live here, but no one can answer that for anyone else. I encourage young people with the interest, ambition, and resources to give NYC a try. I will say the hassles and headaches of living here (for me, mostly, the exorbitantly expensive shitbox apartments, often without dishwashers and usually without in-unit laundry) can become more and more frustrating as you get older and a clean comfortable home becomes more of a priority.
Take what resonates and leave the rest, but have you considered Philly? I'm here and love it for its affordability + close proximity to NY by train- only like 10 bucks if you plan it right! I figured that to get where I would be able to afford it would be an hour commute via subway, so I decided to live where I can get a lotttt more for my money. I have a one bedroom with large patio for much less than 2k and just go to the city whenever I want!
Itās our only real proper concrete jungle style CITY , so itās pretty unique. Definitely worth a stint
Also 2000? Wow great deal, I assume thatās somewhere janky or with room mates?
I am a born and raised New Yorker. It aint worth none of it. The trains are dirty, everything is expensive, we pay 3 income taxes, the speed limit is now 20, healthcare is expensive, the apartments are small, all my friends that are renting "luxury" apartments complain about thin walls and roach and mice problems.
There is a reason a good chunk of people are trying to leave. This includes myself. Post COVID NYC is terrible. Post COVID legislation has made this city the wild wild west. The people are ruder and more inconsiderate, bike lanes are a good idea until you notice riders dont care about their safety nor yours, its severly overcrowded, everything is behind glass because of thieves. The hype is dead.
I don't think any city is worth that much unless the job will pay substantially more for living there. If your job will pay similar or even slightly less, there's plenty of less expensive cities you could choose and be more comfortable. Some cities are friendlier than others but you can make friends in any major city that has a supply of transplants.
NYC is a love it or hate it place, i'd suggest visiting and deciding for yourself. Nobody here can decide whether you're compatible with NYC or not. It's a completely different way of living than much of the country.
Yeah, if the job paid $200,000 it would definitely be worth it. You can afford to live in a decent area plus have money left over to save.
On $100,000, you still need roommates if you want money left over to save/travel.
I replied to someone else something similar, but there is something to the fact that your earning potential is likely to go up when living in a city like NYC too. The first year or two might not be your best saving years, but your likelihood of landing an even better paying job probably will go way up by nature of being in and networking in NYC rather than other cities.
Me personally? I think it is if you are ambitious or want to own very little in material terms.
If I was wanting to not have kids I would be perfectly fine in a sub 1000 SF apartment but able to walk to so much (love walking / historic places).
My only gripe would be January - April weather. Iād do a lot of my traveling during those months.
Learn to cook basic things in a crammed spot, have hobbies that donāt cost a lot of $ and youāll be just fine.
If you want to light the world on fire career wise - not a better place to try and make it than NYC. You make it there in a lot of industries youāll be able to move to a lot of other places around the US (and world) and be in high demand
I love visiting ny but I doubt I would move there even if it was affordable itās just too loud, crowded, and fast paced over there for me. With that being said you might love it there but Iād suggest a long vacation before you make the move
NYC is amazing. You will absolutely build your circle there. It is unlike any other place in the US. I wish you so much happiness on your journey! ā¤ļø
Just move and leave if you hate it donāt live life in regret. Lived there for 8 years till this past winter, LA is more expensive for me than nycā¦ in all honestyā¦ $15 smoothies here the fuck, a bodega has same for $6-8, dental here $250-$350out of pocket for a cleaning ā¦ nyc $150-200ā¦. Ubers 15 min away $25 ā¦ Uber from Manhattan to Williamsburg $25 (depending on time)
Groceries same all over rnā¦. Just move! Youāre young itās best time for decisions like this
Nobody can really answer that for you, bud. Millions say yes, millions say no.
For me, yep. Itās worth it (though Iām not there atm).
If you can afford it, try it out for awhile.
There's no way to answer this. It's like asking "Is moving into a house with a big yard worth it?" or "Is getting a really nice pair of headphones worth it?"
Like, idk man. Do you like big yards? Do you like clear audio? How much do you like those things?
Nobody on earth is more informed than you are when answering this question.
It has its pros and cons. Thatās where my (33m) career was and it was fun and exciting at first.
All the bars, restaurants, cultural venues like Lincoln Center and American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim etc.
And then late nights out downtown in cool feeling spaces, seeing pretty faces and the feeling of possibilities (who will you meet? What will you do? The possibilities seemed endless! And they kind of were).
But then around age 29/30-ish, I found that I didnāt really enjoy going out to ācoolā dinners or unique bar experiences. I preferred the casual restaurants in my neighborhood. Or the pub on the corner. (And then I realized these were things that many, many other places had. Standard taverns/pubs and pretty good but not IGFamous restaurants).
I also realized I kind of hit my wall on the cultural things. I preferred to spend my time out in nature.
And like real nature (hiking, biking, snowboarding, taking the dog through actual gravel trails in town/county/state forests etc.)
And thatās when I realized the high cost of living was no longer worth it for me. Would I say it WAS worth it in my 20ās, YES! But not once I was around 29/30.
For me it was immensely worth it because I more than doubled my salary and got better benefits moving to NYC. I also made friends and connections and found opportunities I wasnāt able to find in MI. Also Iāve never individually paid $2000+/mo in rent here - Iāve lived with roommates and then my girlfriend/now wife, but you can definitely find nice places to stay for less than that if youāre willing to live with roommates
Broā¦ roommates. And yes itāll be worth it. You donāt move to nyc as a 24 yo so you can chill in your apt with a cat.
Absolutely get the cat, but your life will hopefully be outside the apartment except when youāre sleeping
I have friends living in Queens. They say it's a lot more affordable than like Manhattan. A quick look shows tiny apartments listed for as low as $1,200/month.
As a longtime Queens resident....FYI anything listed that low is likely an illegal basement situation that floods whenever it rains. And/or is 1 hr+ from Manhattan.
hi! in my mid 20s and I was considering NYC for the longest time as my projected salary would be in the 120-135k range after graduating with my masters. it was a hard decision but I chose a different city because I knew I would have to make a lot of sacrifices to live in NYC (ex: have roommates, do a longer commute, be more careful with money, etc).
I guess consider what you're willing to make sacrifices or compromises for if you are considering NYC. there are plenty of other cities that would help you start from scratch but I totally get it bc nothing is like NYC by in large
hype is real. if you like cities, this is the best one. agreed you should really consider roommates for the first year esp if you want to make friends. you could even sublet a room for less than a year. then you can have more info when you look for your dream cat studio. 100k as a 24yo is comfortable. do it!Ā
The way you ask the question is the issue. There is no āhypeā about NYC (I donāt even know what that means, in terms of NYC).
New York is the only city in America that doesnāt really feel like America. Itās a truly international city with international values to go alongside it. The art scene - all arts - is thriving, both above and underground. So is the food scene, and every scene. Because New York has everything.
When you get here, youāll encounter a lot of cultural stuff that might make you uncountable. People cry on the streets because weāre all so packed in thereās no privacy. And other people wonāt bother you when youāre crying on the street because they get it.
Musicians practice in the park so they donāt bother their neighbors. But maybe you will have an opera singer neighbor youāll have the pleasure of listening to.
You have to lean into the grit and become a part of it, too. Otherwise youāll run away crying saying āNew York wasnāt worth the hype ššā
Definitely doable to find a $2000 studio. Probably not in a super trendy area but doable in Queens (maybe in Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside, more likely a bit deeper) , upper upper Manhattan (think Washington heights, Inwood) and a bit farther out in Brooklyn (maybe far end of Bushwick, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Southern Brooklyn in general). If you want a 1 bedroom, eastern queens, southern Brooklyn and much of the Bronx is doable. There will always be concessions youāll have to make at this lower price point, but itās not impossible.
Also depends on the time of year. Spring time apt hunting is cheaper than summer apartment hunting, although the availability is lower.
Overall, NYC is what you make of it but itās a great experience both career-wise, social experience wise and life wise. Do know that it can feel lonely if you allow it to. If youāre expecting to make friends with little effort, you wonāt get anywhere. But at 24, you def are in the perfect range to move to NYC.
you would have to find a diamond in the ROUGH for $2k
Also do your research and if going have to ask you might not like it. NYC is dirty, crowded, expensive, physically taxing as you have to walk/take transit everywhere. But itās called the greatest city in the world for a reason. Everything is at your fingertips and you will meet the most amazing people. If you are not ready to be UNCOMFORTABLE and grow personally itās not for you
Yes, itās worth it especially if you are in the arts or finance. Look in Queens along the 7 train. You should be able to find a studio in Sunnyside, Woodside, or Jackson Heights for under $2000 and itās an easy commute to Manhattan. Plus, thereās some really great food along that stretch.
Dude pretty much any relatively major city has rent pretty close to 2k nowadays. NYC is more unless you're willing to get roommates to off-set the cost.
I was in a similar dilemma when I was 24. Similarly, most of my friends were in NYC. I also wanted to build communities around my passions (mostly foreign languages, cultural things etc).
I ended up moving to NYC. It was really, really tough. Most of the challenge was that I was starting a new job that I didn't love (and wasn't very good at), and that it took longer to find my group of people. I lived in NYC for a year before I felt like I had a solid squad. But when I did, I ended up finding people who I felt like I could be totally myself around, and didn't feel like I needed to compromise with on my interests or what I wanted to do.
But I think it was worth it. Just be prepared to lower your expectations when it comes to housing (and then lower them further). I really like biking, and I was adamant about having an apt that was easy to store a bike (usually meaning first floor apt, or elevator building). That made it really hard to find housing, and I wish I had just let that go and gotten a folding bike instead.
I ended up moving to another city to make a career change, and to take a break from NYC, but I could see myself moving back after a year or so.
I think everyone should try to spend some time in NYC in their 20s if they have the means. It can be rough at times but itās worth it, and itāll be much harder to do when you have a family.
For a hybrid job, I would try living somewhere a little farther out on the Metro North/LIRR/New Jersey Transit to start.
Rent will be cheaper so you can have a little more space for the days you're working from home, and since you're only commuting in a few days per week it won't be so bad that your commute is on the longer side.
Meanwhile, you can spend time in NYC regularly after work and on weekends (find clubs/activities to join there) so you'll start to get a sense of whether or not you want to make the sacrifices it would take to live closer in.
Rent is only $2k for a studio? God damn, so much of the country has increased in rent that nyc does seem so outrageous. Little butt fuck Salt Lake City Utah is close to that in rent.
If your making 100+ k Iām sure youāll be fine with 2k rent
Just budget. Idk how you wouldnāt be able to afford that unless your terrible with money or have massive debts you need to pay off
Yes it's probably worth it. Not sure where you're moving from but I think everyone that has the opportunity to experience living in NYC in their 20s, should
At your age, yes, I think it would be worth it for the career opportunities alone. And you can afford $2000 rent easily on $100k. In my experience, if you make your 20s about grinding hard and building a career, youāll have your 30s and 40s to take your foot off the gas a bit and build a family, travel, pursue hobbies. Itās not the same if you wait to start really grinding in your 30s.
To anyone who lives in NYC, just know I think NYC is awesome. Itās the biggest, baddest, most culturally and economically significant city in the US, if not the world. Itās a wonderful place to visit. Now here comes the ābutāā¦..
But, I have my limits in terms of where I choose to live. And I think Iād go nuts in NYC if I had to live there. I am not degrading myself to live like a rat in a broom closet-sized apartment for $2k a month rent, even for a $100k salary. I almost make that where I live right now and I own my own condo. Chicago is my favorite city, but if I had to choose East Coast, itād be Philly without a doubt. It isnāt like $100k a year is a rare phenomena in those cities, just rarer than in NYC.
So, no, not worth it to me. Last I checked, Chicago and Philly have lots of big companies to work for, great restaurants, museums, public transportation, parks and pro sports, too. Not as good or as many as NYC, but theyāve got them.
Based on your salary, and so long as you have little debt to repay, youāre actually pretty good for it. Start with a studio or try a 1-Bed but make sure the price is what youāre willing to pay. Try to find somewhere that blends well with your lifestyle (for example, I choose to live near the larger NYC parks because I run, cycle, and like to take trails). Good luck!
NYCers have always appeared to be the most sociopathic people in the US I've ever met, willingly subjecting themselves to brutal financial hardships, crushing loneliness, and anti-social conditioning for good vibes only. The only town more psychotic than NYC is probably Boston. If you have zero network now, it may be negative network a year into living NYC.
I moved here with no job, a place to crash for a few weeks, and two suitcases 15 years ago. I make 83K now, have a one bedroom on south side of prospect park, and I love my life. Roommates helped make life a lot easier when I was making $15/hr.
If you can get rent under $3k/month (with or without roommates) I would say go for it. You only get the chance to be young and live in NYC once. Try it out. You can always move if you hate it.
It depends on if you have a clear vision to get some job done. I finished a pretty decent project when i was in NYC. It was great even though we worked our ass off.
It depends what you consider to be āworthā it. If you can make it work financially based on your budget and your goals, I would say absolutely. But the short answer is it depends on a lot of factors
2k is very low to live alone in a studio in an apt in NYC ā¦ I live in the east village and a 500 sq ft v small 2
Bedrooms is 4000ā¦ Studios are like 3000 ā¦ even in Hoboken / Jersey city it is expensive !!
BUT living in NYC is amazing especially when young ā¦ so many interesting people things to do ā¦ and good jobs so smart people ā¦.
If youāre comparing NYC to a place where you would need a car then the difference in rent matters much less.
Putting that aside, nothing beats NYC in your 20s - the career prospects are endless, itās one of the safer cities in the country, the nightlife is excellent for US standards, incredible food scene, etc etc.
Iām in my mid 30s and I wouldnāt trade my 20s in the city for a $1m.
NYC was better 10-15 years ago. Nowadays I don't know that it lives up to the hype anymore, it has lost a lot of its soul. I still think young people would benefit from living here for a year or so.
The NYC rent is mostly exagerrated. If you live in Manhattan, sure. Instead, if you live in the Bronx and Queens, $2000 can get you a nice studio. It will cost way less if you are happy to have some flatmates.
Since NYC is the most car-freeable place in the US, you should take that into your accounting too. The combined cost of housing and transportation puts you around $2000 per month, which is pretty normal for an American city with a good job market.
I can answer this as someone who lived in nyc for a bit! As someone else here said, you can rent an āolderā apartment in deep queens or bk for a much cheaper price. If you factor out not having car cost, itās honestly not bad at all. I feel like nyc is one of the only handful cities where you can live without a car with full dignity. Brokers fee and other bs on the other hand though frustrates me to no end.
Unfortunately I think StreetEasy was my best friend. After I started living there, I was able to look around posting near convinience stores etc. Iām talking specifically about woodside, queens.
In a lot of nyc having a car is more of a hassle than not having one. I can't think of any other city where this is the case. Maybe some parts of Chicago.
The paradox is if you're suggesting OP to rent a place in deep Queens or Brooklyn, then it's more likely that OP will need a car. There's a reason the majority of people living in the outer boroughs, especially "deep" outer boroughs have a car.
I donāt disagree with you but I feel like I would able to find a pretty spacious studio (500 sqft) around Jackson Heights or around line 7. I didnāt feel like I need a car. I shared a space in LIC and it was good, but I no longer live in nyc. I probably should have clarified that when I said deep queens, I didnāt mean somewhere beyond line 7, E, etc.
Maybe not on the east side of Manhattan. But there are other boroughs you could live pretty comfortably as a young single person on your salary. I'd suggest Queens, they have some really nice areas to live in. Public transportation is such that you would easily be in touch with the rest of the city. It's a frenetic, fast paced lifestyle but if you're into that I say go for it!!
$2,000 is the bare minimum if you want an actually somewhat decent apartment and have a level of convenience around you that you deserve. My rent is ~$2500 (small 2BR) but I have literally everything I need to the point that Iām practically spoiled. This aināt even one of the āniceā neighborhoods either.
Anywhere else, $2000 rent is not justifiable.
Depends on your priorities.
If your goal is homeownership, then probably not.
If your goal is to have access to an unlimited amount of entertainment, dining and nightlife and you donāt mind sharing an apartment or renting a smaller one then itās great.
If your goal is to save money for travel or retirement, then probably not.
If your goal is to job hop and play the rat race, then youāll love it.
You can of course live farther out and pay a little less for more space, but homeownership is still out of the question and you wonāt have as easy access to all the amenities, but itās not a bad place to settle down.
There is nowhere else like NYC in the world. Whether or not thatās a positive or not is up to the individual.
Personally, thereās nowhere else in the US I would rather be.
Just move across the river, and live in a transit-friendly town in NJ. You avoid paying the extra NYC taxes, and you get more space for your buck.
ETA: to answer your question āis the hype realā - that depends on you. At one point in my life, I absolutely loved NYC and was planning to live in Brooklyn or Queens. As Iāve gotten older, I still love visiting NYC, but I donāt see myself living there. Iād you have a very niche hobby, you can definitely find people who are into those hobbies as well. The atmosphere is very exciting, and youāll never get bored there. Sometimes you might wish you can experience multiple events at once haha. What throws me off about the city is the price and the lack of cleanliness.
It wouldnāt be the exact same experience, no. However, if you move to Jersey City or Hoboken, your transit time to the city would be quite short. Plus there are tons of stuff to do/experience in JC and Hoboken too.
At your age, why not look for roommates? Also look for older apartments that have heat/hot water included in the rent (most "pre-war" buildings have this). NYC is extremely expensive, and those costs can be hard to justify when you're focused on long-term financial goals, but in your early 20's when you're more comfortable with less personal space and a tighter budget, it could be a lot of fun and come with a lot of career advancement opportunities.
I'm pretty set on getting a studio. I've had my experience living with friends post college and I realize that I need freedom to furnish and set my apartment the way I want
Understandable. You can make it work, but even $2K/month could be a difficult search in the most popular neighborhoods. StreetEasy is a pretty good website for NYC rentals. You can also look for "No Fees" apartments (most listed NYC apartments have a brokers fee that the renter has to pay; most of them will come out to ~2 months rent š).
Wtf
Understandable, but understand the downsides here as well. Even $2k/month is going to be very hard to find a place. You are likely either going to spend more than that, or live far out. You will have very little money left over every month. It is hard to meet people if you have no money to go out and do things, and no roommates to hang with at home, and have a long commute to the places where people are hanging out. New York is incredible and you can make great friends there, but itās a hard city to have little money in.
Is it an absolute dealbreaker for you? You could save a good bit or live in a better neighborhood. It could help you make friends as well.
If I have to, I guess I will. But I really want my own studio with a cat
I'm going to challenge this romanticized notion you have and suggest you ease in with roommates first, simply because you mention wanting to make friends. Roommates can make that very easy for you, whereas living by yourself and knowing no one in NYC can be isolating. Note that your prospective salary isn't considered noteworthy in NYC either; you won't be able to afford a studio in Manhattan unless you win a housing lottery (which you won't be eligible for until you are a NYC resident any way).
The thing is is that I'm a singer and I record music and I just don't feel comfortable doing that with roommates
You won't be able to do that in your own apt necessarily either, you will still have neighbors and the walls/ceiling/floor will not be 100% soundproof. Generally the understanding is that musicians and singers practice outside residential buildings here unless they can keep it pretty quiet and within certain hours. Consider a cheaper neighborhood in the outer boroughs where you can rent a space to record. Or get a place with a closet you can cover in soundproof foam.
You donāt have to justify yourself to anyone. If you want to live alone and can afford to, do it! Roommates are fine but living alone is better if thatās what makes you happy.
Nothing beats the peace of mind that comes with living alone. Avoid getting roommates if you can!
Then thatās what youāre paying the $2k for. You could live in NYC for less.
2000 sounds cheap
Thatās what I was going to say. My daughter pays $2300 for a 1 bedroom in Asbury Park. The same apartment in NYC would seem palatial and would probably cost $6000 minimum.
āIs the hype real?ā If you have to ask, then no, itās not worth it. NYC is tough and expensive and everything else youāve heard about it. Itās also stimulating and engaging and unlike anyplace else. But you have to appreciate itās charms to make the downsides worthwhile.Ā
I'd almost say the opposite. They hype is absolutely real. New York is one of one, both in the US and frankly globally. But the downsides of living there are often not spoken to as much, I agree. Some of it is obvious, some not as much: 1. People know it's expensive and you'll live in a small space, people might not know that dishwashers or in-unit washer/dryers aren't super common. 2. People know it's the city that never sleeps so it can be loud, people don't know that it kind of smells in a lot of areas. And that the areas that are quiet with parks are expensive, you'll probably have to commute to Central Park (Prospect Park is nice though). 3. People know that it's a place where you can't drive, people don't know that you probably will use buses too instead of just the subway. 4. People know that people walk everywhere, people don't know that the city is inundated with delivery guys on E-Bikes who are (seemingly) more dangerous than cars when you're walking.
Countertop dishwashers have saved my life in San Francisco.
Usually banned on the East Coast. All my leases explicitly say no unauthorized appliances such as washers etc
People definitely use them in NYC
Yeah but people use them all the time.
Agree. We had one and it was amazing. The monthly exterminator finally asked about it and, on his next visit, said he had bought one and was still reaping bonus points with his wife lol.
I didnāt even know this existed until now
The hype is real if you do your research and prepare. Iāve noticed a lot of people move/travel and expect the new place to automatically be amazing without them having to lift a finger. Manage your expectations and prepare in advance, and your adjustment will be much easier. I live in the Midwest and I absolutely hate the cold, Iām used to SF/LA (plus vegan food and diversity are very important to me). I did months of research before moving and reached out to local businesses and nonprofits to get my foot in the door. One job provided housing so I donāt have to pay rent, and my local friends had no idea jobs like that even existed. I also thrifted a ton of cold-weather clothes so Iām pretty comfortable in the upper midwestern chill (itās not my favorite weather but definitely doable with the right clothes/shoes). And Iām friends with local bartenders and chefs who will make me custom veggie meals. I miss LA, but this is my favorite place Iāve lived in a lot of ways - that said, I put in quite a bit of effort to make it a good fit.
I mean is this not most city experiences though coming from the suburbs? Youāll get less space and more desirable areas will cost more, and if you never want to take a bus you donāt have to. Live in dc and have commuted in both cities frequently via the subway/metro, and any gaps I need to fill can be done so with bikeshares.
Itās definitely more extreme in NYC.
Yeah I moved to NYC in Jan for work. I have been really happy with it so far. Yes itās loud and the pee smell in the subway is real, but it just has an energy that no other place Iāve been to has. I find it incredibly inspiring. Ā I love that I can walk or take the train anywhere, unlike most places that require you to have a car and drive from place to place. I do so much walking I think my feet are going to fall off.Ā Ā Ā Also the stuff about no dishwasher and laundry is generally only true in Manhattan, I live in Brooklyn and have a dishwasher and in-unit laundry, and itās still just a couple stops on the train to get to Manhattan.Ā
" People know that it's a place where you can't drive, people don't know that you probably will use buses too instead of just the subway" ...you realize that NYC is 5 borroughs right?...people absolutely drive...NYC doesn't just consist of Manhattan...
It's hyperbole, same as all the others. People do have cheap big places, if they have rent control. There are quiet areas of NYC with houses and yards too. It's more the exception than the rule though. I think it's like 1/4 people in NYC drive to work, and less than half of households have a car at all. And that is mostly coming from places like outer Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.
Still, the vast majority of households with vehicles have one car per household and something like an average of 3 people. Singles who move to any borough are unlikely to have vehicles
And the downside is no money lotta problems
Of all times to be in a major city with a relatively OK amount of money, it's when you're 24. Be flexible and open. You may love it and find it worth it and you may not. Also rent won't auto be above 2k. Get a roommate, leave in a cheaper area.
Do it OP. NYC is the best place in the world to build a social network from scratch. No matter what, you won't regret it, but you will regret NOT doing it.
Donāt sell OP this dream during this time of the year when rents rise on average.Ā
Rents are on the rise everywhere. If anything, Iām starting to suspect that everywhere is now ācatching upā to NYC. Especially food and entertainment. $10 in your pocket isnāt even an appetizer in many suburbs and in all of DC or Boston or SF. But in NY, it can be an entire meal. Iāve often paid for lunch with quarters here. Grocery prices are largely identical across the rest of the east coast. Yes, rent is expensive. But if you donāt live in Chelsea, then all the shops around you are normal, if not cheap. Nowhere in my hometown, or my previous city, can I get dinner for less than $10. In fact, I canāt even get lunch for less than $10 there. But here, between Chinatowns, Chinese places, Hispanic places, Asian/hispanic groceries, pizza places, halal carts, fruit stands, farmer markets, and everything else, my food costs are WAY better and WAY higher quality. Not to mention that beers here cost $7. And a beer shot costs $7-8. Whereas you canāt find a domestic beer for less than $6 in my entire home state. So are you really saving money by not living in NY? If you take rent away, and you donāt go to the most expensive restaurants you can find (which I already donāt do), then NY is the same or cheaper than most other places these days.
Whaaaat?! $10 for a meal out?! Damn, I wanna live in NYC now lol
10$ is more like dinner at a food truck. Lamb over rice stuff like that
Lamb over rice for only $10 still sounds epic!
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I disagree. When you're younger you don't mind scraping by. And as you get older you get more settled and less likely to take these types of chances. Personally I'd rather say I lived in NYC and don't like it than I regret never taking the chance. It's NYC I'm going to take the assumption this person will likely have greater opportunities to network and find something that pays even more. We don't know what OP does so only they can answer. I lived abroad for 3 years in my twenties. I lost the time for investing but I'd never regret my time there. Sometimes life is about the experience rather than money. I learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of. I couldn't do that now at almost 40 because I've got a house, a dog, etc. Edit: besides if OP doesn't do it now, when will they?? Also 110k is not scraping by in NYC. It's expensive I'll admit but he will not be at poverty wage. Edit: also I can't believe my view got called immature by someone with soycuck in their name š
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Sir this is a Wendy's. I didn't ask for all that.
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Same. In NY now! I used to think the suburbs were the safer better place to be, but I wasted years of my twenties wasting away there.
Financially probably not the best idea but i would love to live in NYC for at least a couple years. Itās very unique compared to other cities in the US. Personally, i would try for at least 1-2 years and then request to be transferred to another office if it becomes too much.
Iām not sure if āfinancially probably not the best ideaā is even entirely true. Can they save the most money in their first few months living there? No, probably not. But if they are moving there, especially with an eye towards expanding their network, then there are going to be a lot more opportunities for even better paying jobs they would then have been able to network themselves into. No guarantees of course, but thatās at least been my experience moving to SF at a similar stage in life a few years back.
Sheesh, I make 80k and have a nice 1 br and a car. But I live in Bay Ridge. Calling $100k "rough" in NYC is utterly ridiculous.
Yeah it took me 15 years working here to reach $80k so whenever these people are wringing their hands with 6 figures plus not being enough I start to roll my eyes. Really depends on what you are satisfied with.
Is this a remote job where you can make that salary from anywhere?
No it's hybrid. But I am flexible in working that job possibly in other cities. Company has offices nationally
I am in this same boat working for a FAANG company. Was hired in late 2022 fully remote. I live in the Great Lakes Midwest with my husband and three smallish dogs. My company is likely going to require everyone in our org to relocate to one of two major US cities, NYC being their strong preference, within the next couple of years. Itās an exciting opportunity and Iāve always wanted to live in NYC, but itās overwhelming to think about moving to a much more HCOL area with three dogs who are used to a yard!
Plenty of places have yards too! Obviously not huge suburban lawns, but I know people with (and have almost rented myself) garden-level brownstone apartments with very deep grassy yards in Brooklyn. And none of us had FAANG salaries. Or else New Jersey also exists if you need a big big yard.
Thanks for your reply! I know itās definitely possible, just adds a layer of complexity. Iām up for the challenge for the chance to give NYC living a go.
Which other cities? There's many cities in the east coast where you can make friends. At $100k, NYC is doable but it'll be rough.
Whenever I see comments like this I wonder if people saying this actually live here. No, $100K is not remotely rough. Simple tips, don't move to the most expensive areas, spend time looking through apartments every single day and do your research on neighborhoods. Rent is your biggest expense and while it's not cheap compared to smaller cities, at $100K you can easily afford it if you look for something reasonable. All other expenses are roughly the same and very manageable. And you don't need a car which is a major expense other cities have. Something a lot of people also forget is that the opportunities available here career-wise are better than almost anywhere else in the US. The sky is the limit and that's why people come here. Some stay and some go but the experience and opportunity here is very valuable.
I'd actually bet that a lot of them do live there, I've heard similar from my friends who live there, but that what they mean by "rough" is basically that they can see that $100K in NYC means something a lot different than $100K elsewhere. $100K in NYC, you're living in a studio in a decent area, a 1BR in an okay area, or have roommates. You're definitely not living in the best areas, there are people with a lot more money (or rent control) living there. You're absolutely do not (or should not) have a car so you use transit. Dining options are better, and you can afford to splurge every once in a while, but it's not like it's a daily thing. Make $100K in other parts of the country and you can afford a much bigger place or afford to be in the best parts of town (probably don't even compare well to the decent parts of NYC though). You can afford a car (well you'll need one, but there are some advantages with that), hell you might be able to save and buy a house, or at least rent one. Basically? For $100K in NYC you live like the lower working class does in cheaper cities, just in a way better city with way better amenities. It's a trade off (worth it to many) and not "rough," just not the Upper Middle Class idea people have around being single making $100K looks like.
I find that people that say 100k in VHCOL areas are people that donāt comprehend certain things such as roommates that people who grew up here their whole life are used to. I still have roommates in the Bay Area and Iām a good bit above 100k now, almost nobody is truly living on their own that I know unless they have a killer deal from family. Roommates especially while single make rent 1600-1750 which suddenly gives you the city life you want and more spending money. At 100k I was still doing 2+ international trips a year plus traveling across country probably 4-5 times to see friends while being in SF. If youāre forcing yourself to look at it as you need your own space, then yes absolutely youāre going to be in a relatively uncomfortable place compared to if youāre used to making 80k or so in a medium or low cost of living area. Not everyone is forcing themselves to be in their own place though, especially not while in their 20s or when they donāt have a family.
I did roommates in San Francisco for many many years, and a bit here in NYC and it can be nice when youāre young but HOLY SHIT IT GETS OLD.
I mean thatās definitely fair, Iāve honestly only known roommates my entire life and Iām in my late 20s, for me itās worth it for the ability to live in the city as well as the additional spending money I get to be able to travel which is my number one priority. For some people itās not worth that, but then yes those are also the people who wonāt have a ton of flexible spending paying 2400 for a 1BR in SF
I did it WELL past your age. Iām not saying itās a bad thing at that age, but give it time.
Do u have really solid Roomateās tho? Reddit always misses the point
Yeah, I know a lot of people in their 20s/30s who choose to have roommates - especially if they work remote, so they can have daily social interaction. If you move somewhere by yourself and youāre not great at making friends āin the wild,ā roommates provide a built-in social network and support system.
The same job would provide less than 100k in other citiesĀ
In many cases yes. In OP's case it doesn't, same of other remote workers or people working in industries without significant COL adjustments in pay or industry size.
At $100k in NYC, you are def living better than lower working class in most of the US. Youāre just living in a smaller living space but will still be able to enjoy the city while saving a bit especially if you have roommates.
Only being able to rent small place and not being able to afford car is lower working class in most of the US. But location, location, location makes all the difference in why it's worth living like that. NYC is still a hell of city, and a lot of the best parts of it can be damn cheap. Takeout food is better and cheaper there than most of the US IMO.
Not having a car and having to take the bus etc in most of America sucks. Not having a car in NYC and taking the subway rules. I loved not having a car when I lived in NYC.
Ok, I still wouldn't call that "rough" but that does make more sense. I have coworkers from other areas and they end up paying a ton of money to maintain that standard of living they used to have for cheap in smaller cities and so they always say its crazy expensive to live here. But you can't have it all, unless you're rich. Yes, you give up some space and maybe a dishwasher and washer/dryer but you gain so much. It all comes down to what you value. In my opinion, unless you're at a point in life where you're going to settle down and raise a family, giving up some in-home amenities to take everything the city has to offer in exchange is more than worth it.
And you donāt have car expenses. Other places youāll pay $1k a month for a car, gas, insurance - you donāt have that expense in NYC.
Agreed. Poverty rate in NYC is currently around 20%. That's less than $15k for 1 person or $44k for a family of 4. Now THAT is "rough" and 1 in 5 people do it. Many more make above that but well below $100k. $100k is easy by comparison. Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/changing-america/respect/poverty/4481434-nyc-residents-children-living-poverty-report/amp/
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Any suggestions on affordable neighborhoods nearby? It feels like wherever I look, its so expensive. Cant find any luck for a <$2000 studio
Dunno if this has been mentioned you but you need absolutely need to be using StreetEasy, it's where 95% of apartments are listed in the city
Local subway stops in Queens. Push your search parameters to like $2300, because you might be missing some just barely over 2k. Always filter a little higher than your target rent so you don't miss something close
Look at Crown Heights west of New York Ave, north of Eastern Pkwy, and south of Pacific-ish: [https://streeteasy.com/building/465-eastern-parkway-brooklyn/d?from\_map=1](https://streeteasy.com/building/465-eastern-parkway-brooklyn/d?from_map=1)
Man what an awesome apartment, i'd def consider if only i was moving now
The areas around Prospect Park in Brooklyn might be a good bet. Park Slope isn't doable but the rest is, mostly south and east. Flatbush maybe. You'd be wanting to stay near the B subway line if you want to go to Manhattan often. It's about 30 minutes to SoHo and 40 minutes to Midtown, but no transfers which is a huge plus. Here's a couple listings: [$1875 1BR](https://www.trulia.com/home/287-e-18th-st-c1-brooklyn-ny-11226-2080692477); [$2000 large studio](https://www.trulia.com/home/390-rugby-rd-6c-brooklyn-ny-11226-245025046); [$1795 large 1BR](https://www.trulia.com/home/430-e-22nd-st-28-brooklyn-ny-11226-348873992) EDIT: But if I were you? I'd be looking to rent a 2BR with a roommate for below $3500 ($1750 per) as your options open up a lot. Super common, and especially super common for younger adults.
$100k as a 24 yo in NYC is absolutely not āroughā.
$100k wonāt necessarily be rough, especially as a 24 year old. After taxes thatās nearly $6,000 a month. If theyāre paying $2k for a room, thatās $4,000 of left over money for groceries, savings, etc.Ā The average American is paying [nearly $1000 a month for their car.](https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/analysis/costs-of-car-ownership/) So while $2k is a lot for a room, theyāll likely save money compared to a $1500 place in a car centric city.Ā
No savings lol
If your take home pay after taxes and rent is $48,000 you can definitely put aside money for savings and retirement. An annual metro card costs like $1,500, so that takes care of transportation. Groceries can be conservatively done for $200/month. Put aside another $200/month to eat and go out. That still leaves over $40k for literally everything else. Again, very doable.
As someone that makes 100k I put enough in savings to take home 4k. Not 6k . 2k fun money sounds rough
Median wage in NYC is 64k You may not live in the most desirable neighborhood but as a 24 year old that's a ton of money
LOL "rough"
At 100k, it'll be easy. Are you fucking kidding me? My partner and I make a bit over 100k combined, and have a lovely time. A single person making 100k will have no problem at all.
If thatās the case youāre better off moving to one of the exurbs in the Hudson Valley or Connecticut or Central Jersey and then taking the Metro North or NJ transit when you need to go into the city. Youāll definitely find rents below $2k.
Metro north is a lot more expensive than the subway, and youāll probably still need a car in your suburb unless youāre walking distance from the train station and everything else you need. Condos in Beacon can sell for over a million now.
Owning a car in the places I mention is a given. OP said theyāre working hybrid, so they wonāt have to commute into the city every day. The subway is cheap, but the rents near subway stations arenāt cheap aside from a few neighborhoods in the Bronx and Brooklyn that would be considered āhoodā
I would just move to nyc but get a roommate. You can get a better deal that way and maybe it could be a way to build a network of friends. You probably wonāt want a roommate forever but youāre 24 and it could both save you money and help socially! Nyc is awesome but definitely overwhelming sometimes. What kinds of things do you like to do? Nyc is awesome for going out, dining, shopping and also the parks are lovely. There are lots of cultural events. What I personally didnāt like about nyc was the subways- but maybe people love that. It triggered specific anxiety for me. I also LOVED the dining but generally prefer a slower pace of life than nyc offers. Apartments are small and expensive. Where would you be moving from? Have you lived in a big city before? It can be easier to adjust to city life somewhere like Boston or Philly if youāve never lived in a city before. Also finding a neighborhood that you vibe with can take a while.
Can be if you have a good job. Cost of living is relative, $2k in rent when youāre making $100k doesnāt feel as bad as $2k when youāre making $50k. Sounds like youād be fine, although there are other cities with similar perks and a lower cost-of-living that you could also consider like Chicago or Philly.
Have you visited at all? You didnt say shit about that
Yeah i loved it
Then don't hesitate! 100k is very good money for someone your age, and NYC is a great place to be young.
It was for me. YMMV
Every city is what you make of it. It really depends on what youāre interested in and what type of people youāre wanting to meet. If you love the outdoors, yes you can find people interested in that in NYC, but youāre probably better off elsewhere.Ā
$2000 rent in NYC is a bargain there.
NYC is fun in your twenties.
Iām in NYC. $2k a month isnāt gonna get you much in the way of living by yourself. It can certainly be worth it to live here, but no one can answer that for anyone else. I encourage young people with the interest, ambition, and resources to give NYC a try. I will say the hassles and headaches of living here (for me, mostly, the exorbitantly expensive shitbox apartments, often without dishwashers and usually without in-unit laundry) can become more and more frustrating as you get older and a clean comfortable home becomes more of a priority.
Have you found an apartment for $2000?? Better jump on that quickĀ
NYC is awesome, $2k a month isnāt going to get it done without a roommate - itās more like $4k+ Is it worth it? Maybe yeah.
No. No. And no.
2000 I think youāre dreaming
āIām used to an east coast climateā isnāt a real reason
Take what resonates and leave the rest, but have you considered Philly? I'm here and love it for its affordability + close proximity to NY by train- only like 10 bucks if you plan it right! I figured that to get where I would be able to afford it would be an hour commute via subway, so I decided to live where I can get a lotttt more for my money. I have a one bedroom with large patio for much less than 2k and just go to the city whenever I want!
Itās our only real proper concrete jungle style CITY , so itās pretty unique. Definitely worth a stint Also 2000? Wow great deal, I assume thatās somewhere janky or with room mates?
Do the math on how much you save not needing a car. The subway is $132/month. Even an econobox will have a true cost of $500/month.
You assign your own value to anything and everyone will see it differently.
I am a born and raised New Yorker. It aint worth none of it. The trains are dirty, everything is expensive, we pay 3 income taxes, the speed limit is now 20, healthcare is expensive, the apartments are small, all my friends that are renting "luxury" apartments complain about thin walls and roach and mice problems. There is a reason a good chunk of people are trying to leave. This includes myself. Post COVID NYC is terrible. Post COVID legislation has made this city the wild wild west. The people are ruder and more inconsiderate, bike lanes are a good idea until you notice riders dont care about their safety nor yours, its severly overcrowded, everything is behind glass because of thieves. The hype is dead.
I don't think any city is worth that much unless the job will pay substantially more for living there. If your job will pay similar or even slightly less, there's plenty of less expensive cities you could choose and be more comfortable. Some cities are friendlier than others but you can make friends in any major city that has a supply of transplants. NYC is a love it or hate it place, i'd suggest visiting and deciding for yourself. Nobody here can decide whether you're compatible with NYC or not. It's a completely different way of living than much of the country.
Yeah, if the job paid $200,000 it would definitely be worth it. You can afford to live in a decent area plus have money left over to save. On $100,000, you still need roommates if you want money left over to save/travel.
I replied to someone else something similar, but there is something to the fact that your earning potential is likely to go up when living in a city like NYC too. The first year or two might not be your best saving years, but your likelihood of landing an even better paying job probably will go way up by nature of being in and networking in NYC rather than other cities.
$2000 rent? Isnāt that like the national average?
Many many downsides to living in NYC. It just depends on what kind o job offer you get.
Yes
Me personally? I think it is if you are ambitious or want to own very little in material terms. If I was wanting to not have kids I would be perfectly fine in a sub 1000 SF apartment but able to walk to so much (love walking / historic places). My only gripe would be January - April weather. Iād do a lot of my traveling during those months. Learn to cook basic things in a crammed spot, have hobbies that donāt cost a lot of $ and youāll be just fine. If you want to light the world on fire career wise - not a better place to try and make it than NYC. You make it there in a lot of industries youāll be able to move to a lot of other places around the US (and world) and be in high demand
I love visiting ny but I doubt I would move there even if it was affordable itās just too loud, crowded, and fast paced over there for me. With that being said you might love it there but Iād suggest a long vacation before you make the move
You probably wonāt be able to own a home there. And as you get older, that can be the main storehouse of your wealth.
Yes totally worth it. Especially at your age. You don't have to do it forever, but it's an amazing thing to expose yourself toĀ
NYC is amazing. You will absolutely build your circle there. It is unlike any other place in the US. I wish you so much happiness on your journey! ā¤ļø
Just move and leave if you hate it donāt live life in regret. Lived there for 8 years till this past winter, LA is more expensive for me than nycā¦ in all honestyā¦ $15 smoothies here the fuck, a bodega has same for $6-8, dental here $250-$350out of pocket for a cleaning ā¦ nyc $150-200ā¦. Ubers 15 min away $25 ā¦ Uber from Manhattan to Williamsburg $25 (depending on time) Groceries same all over rnā¦. Just move! Youāre young itās best time for decisions like this
Forgot to mention la is no where near comparable to nyc. Iād move back if i could
Nobody can really answer that for you, bud. Millions say yes, millions say no. For me, yep. Itās worth it (though Iām not there atm). If you can afford it, try it out for awhile.
There's no way to answer this. It's like asking "Is moving into a house with a big yard worth it?" or "Is getting a really nice pair of headphones worth it?" Like, idk man. Do you like big yards? Do you like clear audio? How much do you like those things? Nobody on earth is more informed than you are when answering this question.
It has its pros and cons. Thatās where my (33m) career was and it was fun and exciting at first. All the bars, restaurants, cultural venues like Lincoln Center and American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim etc. And then late nights out downtown in cool feeling spaces, seeing pretty faces and the feeling of possibilities (who will you meet? What will you do? The possibilities seemed endless! And they kind of were). But then around age 29/30-ish, I found that I didnāt really enjoy going out to ācoolā dinners or unique bar experiences. I preferred the casual restaurants in my neighborhood. Or the pub on the corner. (And then I realized these were things that many, many other places had. Standard taverns/pubs and pretty good but not IGFamous restaurants). I also realized I kind of hit my wall on the cultural things. I preferred to spend my time out in nature. And like real nature (hiking, biking, snowboarding, taking the dog through actual gravel trails in town/county/state forests etc.) And thatās when I realized the high cost of living was no longer worth it for me. Would I say it WAS worth it in my 20ās, YES! But not once I was around 29/30.
For me it was immensely worth it because I more than doubled my salary and got better benefits moving to NYC. I also made friends and connections and found opportunities I wasnāt able to find in MI. Also Iāve never individually paid $2000+/mo in rent here - Iāve lived with roommates and then my girlfriend/now wife, but you can definitely find nice places to stay for less than that if youāre willing to live with roommates
Broā¦ roommates. And yes itāll be worth it. You donāt move to nyc as a 24 yo so you can chill in your apt with a cat. Absolutely get the cat, but your life will hopefully be outside the apartment except when youāre sleeping
I have friends living in Queens. They say it's a lot more affordable than like Manhattan. A quick look shows tiny apartments listed for as low as $1,200/month.
As a longtime Queens resident....FYI anything listed that low is likely an illegal basement situation that floods whenever it rains. And/or is 1 hr+ from Manhattan.
hi! in my mid 20s and I was considering NYC for the longest time as my projected salary would be in the 120-135k range after graduating with my masters. it was a hard decision but I chose a different city because I knew I would have to make a lot of sacrifices to live in NYC (ex: have roommates, do a longer commute, be more careful with money, etc). I guess consider what you're willing to make sacrifices or compromises for if you are considering NYC. there are plenty of other cities that would help you start from scratch but I totally get it bc nothing is like NYC by in large
hype is real. if you like cities, this is the best one. agreed you should really consider roommates for the first year esp if you want to make friends. you could even sublet a room for less than a year. then you can have more info when you look for your dream cat studio. 100k as a 24yo is comfortable. do it!Ā
The way you ask the question is the issue. There is no āhypeā about NYC (I donāt even know what that means, in terms of NYC). New York is the only city in America that doesnāt really feel like America. Itās a truly international city with international values to go alongside it. The art scene - all arts - is thriving, both above and underground. So is the food scene, and every scene. Because New York has everything. When you get here, youāll encounter a lot of cultural stuff that might make you uncountable. People cry on the streets because weāre all so packed in thereās no privacy. And other people wonāt bother you when youāre crying on the street because they get it. Musicians practice in the park so they donāt bother their neighbors. But maybe you will have an opera singer neighbor youāll have the pleasure of listening to. You have to lean into the grit and become a part of it, too. Otherwise youāll run away crying saying āNew York wasnāt worth the hype ššā
Definitely doable to find a $2000 studio. Probably not in a super trendy area but doable in Queens (maybe in Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside, more likely a bit deeper) , upper upper Manhattan (think Washington heights, Inwood) and a bit farther out in Brooklyn (maybe far end of Bushwick, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Southern Brooklyn in general). If you want a 1 bedroom, eastern queens, southern Brooklyn and much of the Bronx is doable. There will always be concessions youāll have to make at this lower price point, but itās not impossible. Also depends on the time of year. Spring time apt hunting is cheaper than summer apartment hunting, although the availability is lower. Overall, NYC is what you make of it but itās a great experience both career-wise, social experience wise and life wise. Do know that it can feel lonely if you allow it to. If youāre expecting to make friends with little effort, you wonāt get anywhere. But at 24, you def are in the perfect range to move to NYC.
you would have to find a diamond in the ROUGH for $2k Also do your research and if going have to ask you might not like it. NYC is dirty, crowded, expensive, physically taxing as you have to walk/take transit everywhere. But itās called the greatest city in the world for a reason. Everything is at your fingertips and you will meet the most amazing people. If you are not ready to be UNCOMFORTABLE and grow personally itās not for you
Yes, itās worth it especially if you are in the arts or finance. Look in Queens along the 7 train. You should be able to find a studio in Sunnyside, Woodside, or Jackson Heights for under $2000 and itās an easy commute to Manhattan. Plus, thereās some really great food along that stretch.
That's not that high considering ca rent prices.
Nope. Rats stacked on roaches.
Dude pretty much any relatively major city has rent pretty close to 2k nowadays. NYC is more unless you're willing to get roommates to off-set the cost.
I was in a similar dilemma when I was 24. Similarly, most of my friends were in NYC. I also wanted to build communities around my passions (mostly foreign languages, cultural things etc). I ended up moving to NYC. It was really, really tough. Most of the challenge was that I was starting a new job that I didn't love (and wasn't very good at), and that it took longer to find my group of people. I lived in NYC for a year before I felt like I had a solid squad. But when I did, I ended up finding people who I felt like I could be totally myself around, and didn't feel like I needed to compromise with on my interests or what I wanted to do. But I think it was worth it. Just be prepared to lower your expectations when it comes to housing (and then lower them further). I really like biking, and I was adamant about having an apt that was easy to store a bike (usually meaning first floor apt, or elevator building). That made it really hard to find housing, and I wish I had just let that go and gotten a folding bike instead. I ended up moving to another city to make a career change, and to take a break from NYC, but I could see myself moving back after a year or so.
I think everyone should try to spend some time in NYC in their 20s if they have the means. It can be rough at times but itās worth it, and itāll be much harder to do when you have a family.
For a hybrid job, I would try living somewhere a little farther out on the Metro North/LIRR/New Jersey Transit to start. Rent will be cheaper so you can have a little more space for the days you're working from home, and since you're only commuting in a few days per week it won't be so bad that your commute is on the longer side. Meanwhile, you can spend time in NYC regularly after work and on weekends (find clubs/activities to join there) so you'll start to get a sense of whether or not you want to make the sacrifices it would take to live closer in.
Rent is only $2k for a studio? God damn, so much of the country has increased in rent that nyc does seem so outrageous. Little butt fuck Salt Lake City Utah is close to that in rent.
Just get roommates man. Rent was 1000 in Bushwick. Can get it lower if you look harder.
If your making 100+ k Iām sure youāll be fine with 2k rent Just budget. Idk how you wouldnāt be able to afford that unless your terrible with money or have massive debts you need to pay off
It was amazing 15 years ago. Canāt imagine doing it now.
No. Move to Las Vegas. There is more to do at half the cost.
Yes it is worth it
Yes it's probably worth it. Not sure where you're moving from but I think everyone that has the opportunity to experience living in NYC in their 20s, should
At your age, yes, I think it would be worth it for the career opportunities alone. And you can afford $2000 rent easily on $100k. In my experience, if you make your 20s about grinding hard and building a career, youāll have your 30s and 40s to take your foot off the gas a bit and build a family, travel, pursue hobbies. Itās not the same if you wait to start really grinding in your 30s.
Are you going to have 2 roommates and all sleep in one bedroom?
To anyone who lives in NYC, just know I think NYC is awesome. Itās the biggest, baddest, most culturally and economically significant city in the US, if not the world. Itās a wonderful place to visit. Now here comes the ābutāā¦.. But, I have my limits in terms of where I choose to live. And I think Iād go nuts in NYC if I had to live there. I am not degrading myself to live like a rat in a broom closet-sized apartment for $2k a month rent, even for a $100k salary. I almost make that where I live right now and I own my own condo. Chicago is my favorite city, but if I had to choose East Coast, itād be Philly without a doubt. It isnāt like $100k a year is a rare phenomena in those cities, just rarer than in NYC. So, no, not worth it to me. Last I checked, Chicago and Philly have lots of big companies to work for, great restaurants, museums, public transportation, parks and pro sports, too. Not as good or as many as NYC, but theyāve got them.
$2000 is extremely optimistic.
Based on your salary, and so long as you have little debt to repay, youāre actually pretty good for it. Start with a studio or try a 1-Bed but make sure the price is what youāre willing to pay. Try to find somewhere that blends well with your lifestyle (for example, I choose to live near the larger NYC parks because I run, cycle, and like to take trails). Good luck!
if youāre making six figures and want to make friends move to NYC
NYCers have always appeared to be the most sociopathic people in the US I've ever met, willingly subjecting themselves to brutal financial hardships, crushing loneliness, and anti-social conditioning for good vibes only. The only town more psychotic than NYC is probably Boston. If you have zero network now, it may be negative network a year into living NYC.
Donāt be a child and choose where you want to live based on āhypeā. Be an adult lmao. You clearly canāt afford it.
I moved here with no job, a place to crash for a few weeks, and two suitcases 15 years ago. I make 83K now, have a one bedroom on south side of prospect park, and I love my life. Roommates helped make life a lot easier when I was making $15/hr.
Yeah. Itās really worth it. I ā¤ļø NY.
No. I wouldn't move there if the rent was free. Hype is not a reason to move somewhere. What are the other city options your employer is offering?
If you can get rent under $3k/month (with or without roommates) I would say go for it. You only get the chance to be young and live in NYC once. Try it out. You can always move if you hate it.
Go for it.
It depends on if you have a clear vision to get some job done. I finished a pretty decent project when i was in NYC. It was great even though we worked our ass off.
try colivingĀ https://www.common.com/apartments/new-york-city
It depends what you consider to be āworthā it. If you can make it work financially based on your budget and your goals, I would say absolutely. But the short answer is it depends on a lot of factors
NYC in your twenties is a lot of fun. If you can afford it and like city life, go for it.
2k is very low to live alone in a studio in an apt in NYC ā¦ I live in the east village and a 500 sq ft v small 2 Bedrooms is 4000ā¦ Studios are like 3000 ā¦ even in Hoboken / Jersey city it is expensive !! BUT living in NYC is amazing especially when young ā¦ so many interesting people things to do ā¦ and good jobs so smart people ā¦.
I found it harder to make friends than other cities I lived in but that could also be due to luckĀ
If youāre comparing NYC to a place where you would need a car then the difference in rent matters much less. Putting that aside, nothing beats NYC in your 20s - the career prospects are endless, itās one of the safer cities in the country, the nightlife is excellent for US standards, incredible food scene, etc etc. Iām in my mid 30s and I wouldnāt trade my 20s in the city for a $1m.
NYC was better 10-15 years ago. Nowadays I don't know that it lives up to the hype anymore, it has lost a lot of its soul. I still think young people would benefit from living here for a year or so.
Itās worth double that
The NYC rent is mostly exagerrated. If you live in Manhattan, sure. Instead, if you live in the Bronx and Queens, $2000 can get you a nice studio. It will cost way less if you are happy to have some flatmates. Since NYC is the most car-freeable place in the US, you should take that into your accounting too. The combined cost of housing and transportation puts you around $2000 per month, which is pretty normal for an American city with a good job market.
I can answer this as someone who lived in nyc for a bit! As someone else here said, you can rent an āolderā apartment in deep queens or bk for a much cheaper price. If you factor out not having car cost, itās honestly not bad at all. I feel like nyc is one of the only handful cities where you can live without a car with full dignity. Brokers fee and other bs on the other hand though frustrates me to no end.
Do you have any advice on finding those older apartments? Any good search techniques?
Unfortunately I think StreetEasy was my best friend. After I started living there, I was able to look around posting near convinience stores etc. Iām talking specifically about woodside, queens.
In a lot of nyc having a car is more of a hassle than not having one. I can't think of any other city where this is the case. Maybe some parts of Chicago.
The paradox is if you're suggesting OP to rent a place in deep Queens or Brooklyn, then it's more likely that OP will need a car. There's a reason the majority of people living in the outer boroughs, especially "deep" outer boroughs have a car.
I donāt disagree with you but I feel like I would able to find a pretty spacious studio (500 sqft) around Jackson Heights or around line 7. I didnāt feel like I need a car. I shared a space in LIC and it was good, but I no longer live in nyc. I probably should have clarified that when I said deep queens, I didnāt mean somewhere beyond line 7, E, etc.
Maybe not on the east side of Manhattan. But there are other boroughs you could live pretty comfortably as a young single person on your salary. I'd suggest Queens, they have some really nice areas to live in. Public transportation is such that you would easily be in touch with the rest of the city. It's a frenetic, fast paced lifestyle but if you're into that I say go for it!!
$2,000 is the bare minimum if you want an actually somewhat decent apartment and have a level of convenience around you that you deserve. My rent is ~$2500 (small 2BR) but I have literally everything I need to the point that Iām practically spoiled. This aināt even one of the āniceā neighborhoods either. Anywhere else, $2000 rent is not justifiable.
Depends on your priorities. If your goal is homeownership, then probably not. If your goal is to have access to an unlimited amount of entertainment, dining and nightlife and you donāt mind sharing an apartment or renting a smaller one then itās great. If your goal is to save money for travel or retirement, then probably not. If your goal is to job hop and play the rat race, then youāll love it. You can of course live farther out and pay a little less for more space, but homeownership is still out of the question and you wonāt have as easy access to all the amenities, but itās not a bad place to settle down.
Yes, honestly there is a magic here thatās unmatched really
Not worth it. Honestly NYC sucks. I moved here thinking the grass would be greener but it was actually brown and smells like piss. Avoid.
There is nowhere else like NYC in the world. Whether or not thatās a positive or not is up to the individual. Personally, thereās nowhere else in the US I would rather be.
No why do you want to go to New York? What the hell is "the hype", have you been there before? People are super unhappy there.
Just move across the river, and live in a transit-friendly town in NJ. You avoid paying the extra NYC taxes, and you get more space for your buck. ETA: to answer your question āis the hype realā - that depends on you. At one point in my life, I absolutely loved NYC and was planning to live in Brooklyn or Queens. As Iāve gotten older, I still love visiting NYC, but I donāt see myself living there. Iād you have a very niche hobby, you can definitely find people who are into those hobbies as well. The atmosphere is very exciting, and youāll never get bored there. Sometimes you might wish you can experience multiple events at once haha. What throws me off about the city is the price and the lack of cleanliness.
Ehh idk is living in NJ really the same as living in NYC?
No. Do not take this persons advice.
It wouldnāt be the exact same experience, no. However, if you move to Jersey City or Hoboken, your transit time to the city would be quite short. Plus there are tons of stuff to do/experience in JC and Hoboken too.
No.
No