Do you know Manhattan well? Just asking because midtown usually isn't people's first choice of living location...
The average 1 BR apartment in Manhattan (including the large area above 110th St. that is Harlem and Washington Heights and such -- so averages below 110th would be more) is $3200. That said, I think you'd be able to find something in the $3500 area if you're flexible on type of building and such.
One note -- many landlords require you to prove that your annual salary is at least 40x your monthly rent, so you won't be able to go much higher than $3500 anyway.
Utilities aren't so bad -- we pay about $100 a month on electricity and $130 for cable/internet.
We don't really have a budget, but we eat out a lot and don't cook much. There is so much yummy food here, and groceries are so expensive, that people really do tend to eat out a lot. I'd be surprised if we spend even $200 per month on average for groceries, but that's because we aren't buying much. We sometimes go grocery shopping in the NJ suburbs, and I'd say that groceries are 50-100% more expensive in Manhattan than in NJ. So you may want to plan for that sticker shock. Prices at CVS and such are also higher than in the suburbs.
Since we don't eat much at home, we spend a lot on eating out/drinks. It is hard to say what is average or reasonable though without knowing what kinds of places you plan to go to and how often. I would also expect restaurants and drinks to cost more than pretty much anywhere else in the US.
Something else to consider -- state + local taxes are high here. They work out to be about 10% of our gross income. So your takehome pay may be a bit less than elsewhere, particularly if you're coming from somewhere with no/low state income tax.
Post by penguingrrl on Oct 14, 2012 12:15:26 GMT -5
I would not personally want to live in midtown, although my cousin did for years and loved it. She was paying I think $2800 for a very small but nice 1 bedroom on 43rd, but that was 5 years ago, so I'm not sure where rents are. They moved in before the building was finished, so I think they got a pretty good deal.
Groceries are a lot more expensive but there are a few things you can do to help with that. If you want to take a cab you can stock up at Fairway in Harlem and the prices are only a touch higher than the suburbs. If you have a car or access to zipcar you can go to NJ and save as well.
We were on 148th at Amsterdam (so an up and coming neighborhood but certainly safe; not great night life in the area though) and were paying $1695 for a 2 bedroom, so if you look around the city you can get decent deals depending on the neighborhood. The area around Columbia U is definitely more affordable since to some degree they're catering to students/grad students/postdocs on a lower income than most NYers.
Oh, and you may want to play around on Streeteasy.com if you want to look at listings in your price range (though note: listings tend to be deceiving -- expect apartments to be way smaller than they look.
You may not need a car, but unlimited monthly subway passes are over 100 per person (or was it closer to 200- it's been a while since I've lived there). Plus taxis if you're going out a lot.
Unless things have changed since I moved 9 months ago, you can pay for subway passes with pre-tax money through your employer. So, your actual commuting cost is not the cost of a monthly subway pass. And, if you're really set on living in walking distance to your jobs, it might not even make sense to have a monthly pass. DH and I didn't have monthly passes last year since he biked to work every day and I WAH. We would just add money to a card as necessary. I probably spent about $40/month doing errands/going out/etc. and DH spent much less since his workplace paid for cabs home if he worked past a certain hour (another thing for you to look into).
Food costs might also be subsidized by your employer, so look into this as well. A large number of people I know in NYC get dinner paid for if they are at the office past 8pm.
I ordered a lot of my groceries through Freshdirect. I have no idea if the prices are significantly higher on that site than at grocery stores in other parts of the U.S. I also went to farmers' markets a lot, particularly the one in Union Square.
Post by shopgirl07 on Oct 14, 2012 13:46:31 GMT -5
Harlem is actually a nice neighborhood. You probably can find some nice places to rent in your price range.
You really have to look at the subway lines and see what your commute would be when looking for places. A neighborhood that's relatively close to midtown could require a line change and be a longer commute, likewise, you could live in Brooklyn and have short commutes.
Friends of mine live in Washington Heights and really like it. Before they bought a few years ago, they were renting a big 2 bedroom for around $2300.
I've been to Manhattan, my H has not; but we're are going in December.
Given that neither of you knows the city all that well, I would probably cast your net pretty wide and plan on seeing as many apartments as you can in different parts of town. This will give you a better idea of what your money gets you in one part of town v. another and give you a chance to walk around and explore different neighborhoods. You should also make yourself a list of things that are non-negotiable and things that you are more flexible about, such as, for example, proximity to a subway station, laundry in building, elevator v. walk-up, etc.
I wouldn't live in Midtown - no character and not as much fun as other neighborhoods. Other than rent, my other bills were actually lower in NYC than they are now. $3500 sounds reasonable for a one bedroom. If I had my choice of neighborhoods I would go for West Village, Soho, Tribeca or West Harlem/Columbia U area. All have fantastic food/fun options and tons of charm.
We have branched out into the Upper East/West side, but again...we want something safe and no in Harlem ghetto.
Umm all of Harlem isn't the "ghetto", nor is all of Harlem unsafe. What is your definition of the ghetto anyway?
Seriously. Harlem was an awesome place to live! I loved the community, our apartment was nice, it was great! Not a ghetto by a long shot. We were in 3 different places (148th at Manhattan, Riverside at Tiemann /124th, and Manhattan at 123rd) and they were all great! Love the area near Columbia!
FYI, my BFF and her H live in midtown and love it. It is near both of their jobs so it made the most sense. If you both will be working in midtown, it might make sense to live there.
Umm all of Harlem isn't the "ghetto", nor is all of Harlem unsafe. What is your definition of the ghetto anyway?
Seriously. Harlem was an awesome place to live! I loved the community, our apartment was nice, it was great! Not a ghetto by a long shot. We were in 3 different places (148th at Manhattan, Riverside at Tiemann /124th, and Manhattan at 123rd) and they were all great! Love the area near Columbia!
A few years ago my husband went to school in Harlem and one of my white suburban friends actually asked me "Will he be okay? Isn't he scared to walk around?" I was so take aback, that I just said no and she followed up with "well he's from the Bronx so I guess he's used to it." :-| First of all, we STILL live in the Bronx, so that was klinda' shitty, but second of all we live in an upscale predominantly white area. Roving gangs of millionaires, prep school kids and Orthodox Jews are not out to get us.
Fuck me for being mistaken about an area. That's why I asked right? Next time ill answer so you won't feel I'm ignoring you since I have to answer every single person here within a certain amount of time :/
She's not upset about you ignoring her. She's upset about your racist BS- as are the rest of us.
Fuck me for being mistaken about an area. That's why I asked right? Next time ill answer so you won't feel I'm ignoring you since I have to answer every single person here within a certain amount of time :/
She's not upset about you ignoring her. She's upset about your racist BS- as are the rest of us.
Post by GailGoldie on Oct 14, 2012 15:59:18 GMT -5
it sounds like you guys really don't know NYC at all --- just a warning - living in the city isn't for everyone - so don't be shocked if you hate it after a year... or you might love it - either way - it's not for everyone, and since you don't really know it - you'll learn a lot.
you can expect to cook at home a lot- but when your kitchen is the size of a stamp, you often can't stand to be in it much and eat out more.... so whatever you are budgeting - budget even higher
Seriously. Harlem was an awesome place to live! I loved the community, our apartment was nice, it was great! Not a ghetto by a long shot. We were in 3 different places (148th at Manhattan, Riverside at Tiemann /124th, and Manhattan at 123rd) and they were all great! Love the area near Columbia!
A few years ago my husband went to school in Harlem and one of my white suburban friends actually asked me "Will he be okay? Isn't he scared to walk around?" I was so take aback, that I just said no and she followed up with "well he's from the Bronx so I guess he's used to it." First of all, we STILL live in the Bronx, so that was klinda' shitty, but second of all we live in an upscale predominantly white area. Roving gangs of millionaires, prep school kids and Orthodox Jews are not out to get us.
OMG! But then we've gotten similar reactions from quite a few people when I said we lived in Harlem. It amazes me. People also have weird views of the Bronx. I lived in Riverdale as a baby and my daughter went to Marble Hill Nursery School in Kingsbridge last year; both were great neighborhoods! (and if you're ever looking for a great nursery school I can't sing MHs praises enough).
As much as it pains me to admit this, the sad truth is that OP's perspective would actually fit in just fine in certain parts of NYC. Although pretty much every demographic is represented within the city limits, many areas are still fairly segeregated and there is a large number of Manhattanites that refuse to go north of 96th Street.
Post by penguingrrl on Oct 14, 2012 16:36:04 GMT -5
Good point. I've gotten snobbery a few times for being uptown. Personally I prefer living uptown and have no desire to live in the expensive or trendy neighborhoods, but a lot of people are pretty snobby in the city.
I wouldn't want to live in midtown if my gross HHI was $150K (because I wouldn't want to spent 50% of my take home on rent). Are you planning to save anything? Is this shortterm or longterm? Are either of you expecting an increase in salary? I have a friend who lived in a 400 sq ft junior 1 bedroom for at least 3000/month. It was just her though. And her salary was 165 starting and probably 220 when she moved.
High amount of crime and drugs; so much so where it's very prevalent to outsiders. To me, the "ghetto" can be any place deemed "unworthy" to live by residents.
Researching now, I see that the "Harlem ghetto" is a thing of the past and up and coming; but if that's all that is portrayed in the media...can outsiders and new to NYC really understand that?
just a tip, but "ghetto" has serious racial undertones, and you make people really uncomfortable when you use it. just don't do it.
I feel we would cook more than average and eat out a little bit less than most people, but I'm thinking $500 in groceries and $400 in eating out.
It is hard to know what you'll do eating out versus eating in until you get here, but I would expect much, much more than $400 a month for eating out and drinks.
High amount of crime and drugs; so much so where it's very prevalent to outsiders. To me, the "ghetto" can be any place deemed "unworthy" to live by residents.
Researching now, I see that the "Harlem ghetto" is a thing of the past and up and coming; but if that's all that is portrayed in the media...can outsiders and new to NYC really understand that?
High amount of crime and drugs; so much so where it's very prevalent to outsiders. To me, the "ghetto" can be any place deemed "unworthy" to live by residents.
Researching now, I see that the "Harlem ghetto" is a thing of the past and up and coming; but if that's all that is portrayed in the media...can outsiders and new to NYC really understand that?
High amount of crime and drugs; so much so where it's very prevalent to outsiders. To me, the "ghetto" can be any place deemed "unworthy" to live by residents.
Researching now, I see that the "Harlem ghetto" is a thing of the past and up and coming; but if that's all that is portrayed in the media...can outsiders and new to NYC really understand that?