I am not so sure NYC is the same. Covid sends the high-wage workers back to their suburban homes, which kills the restaurant and retail and entertainment industries of the city, which is the entire point of even living in or near a city in the first place.
Just want to say on the kids thing that my wife and I had like 9 miscarriages and then we had 5 kids.
if this is true, you're both insane. Why would you put her through that, or why would she put herself through that?
Anyway, people move in and out of NYC all the time. It's a great city for any age. Personally, I visit a lot for work and that's enough for mem but I think up until 40 I would have considered it.
It seems like people either love or hate NYC and they decide pretty quickly. I’ve only vacationed there a few times but I love it. Good luck to your girlfriend.
+1. It’s like people can’t fathom moving to a place where millions of others (from people who work at McDonalds to the wealthy elite) also choose to live and work.
I'll take $235k in Michigan. Crank up your retirement savings rate and get a nice place on the water where you can retire at 50. NYC for a 10k raise (lol).
Something about this post sounds fishy tbh. My wife and I make a similar amount, and there's no way a measly 10k bump would make us upend our lives. Do people really move to NYC in their 30s? Idk just seems weird to me.
Why do other people have to live exactly like you? You sound like a MA.GA hat redneck
Get ratio'd. I'm pro-vaccine and proudly voted for Joe Biden. Doesn't mean I would move to NYC on a whim.
Just want to say on the kids thing that my wife and I had like 9 miscarriages and then we had 5 kids.
if this is true, you're both insane. Why would you put her through that, or why would she put herself through that?
To understand that you would have to put yourself in the shoes of my wife who grew up always wanting to have a family but her body initially wasn't ready.
Life finds a way. OP could try to avoid it all he wants, but his wife could very well undergo parthogenesis like those sharks at the zoo.
OP, I scanned the thread and it seems pretty clear to me from the responses that you first need to get some kids, or at least have definite plans to have some, before you consider moving to NYC.
- don't consider the outer boroughs -- Manhattan and maybe Brooklyn will give you that city life feeling, and the cost savings of other places isn't worth it.
- make an approximate budget. $235K is plenty to have a nice life in NY, but you'll have some sticker shock for the first few months, and you won't be able to sock away savings like you probably used to.
- realistically, given your situation, you probably won't stay there for more than 5 years.
If I were you I’d try living close to Central Park or Prospect Park in Brooklyn. So UWS, UES, Harlem, or Prospect Park, Prospect Heights etc. You can get a 1 bed for $3,500, especially in Brooklyn or Harlem, and $4k+ starts getting into the nicer ones. The UWS is nicer than UES, but there are some good values in the UES further East. Brooklyn is great and a little less dense, but maybe a bit far for your wife’s potential job.
Good luck! Your income is plenty high for a couple with no kids.
I'll take $235k in Michigan. Crank up your retirement savings rate and get a nice place on the water where you can retire at 50. NYC for a 10k raise (lol).
Something about this post sounds fishy tbh. My wife and I make a similar amount, and there's no way a measly 10k bump would make us upend our lives. Do people really move to NYC in their 30s? Idk just seems weird to me.
I understand why it seems fishy. But she's been wanting to work/live in NYC her entire life and just never was able to pull it off. She had a boyfriend for six years who had no desire to live anywhere but Michigan. I don't see us breaking up, but I knew this was her goal.
I lived pretty frugally and we've lived together for two years now. If it doesn't work out, well it's not like we can't move back to Michigan or somewhere more affordable.
I'm not about to tell her to not go after what she wants to do. If kids were in the picture or I had a job that kept me here I don't think NYC would be a possibility.
You should do it then. And there is endless NYRR races in Central Park for you. You can't beat that anywhere.
I'd look into the upper west side- good restaurants and bars, close to the theatre and many museums, Central Park and Riverside Park and close to your wife's work. Mr Johnson lived in that area, maybe he'll chime in.
Battery Park City is a nice quiet area that doesn't feel like typical Manhattan. My brother lives in a 2 bedroom right on the water that costs him $5,000 a month. However, it's a 30 minute commute to work.
Look into the upper upper west side (north of the Armory along Ft. Washington Ave extending to Inwood) instead. More in your price range, less hectic, easy access to both Van Cortlandt and Riverside Parks.
In the UK it's often said "everybody should live in London once" - I'm not sure if the same is true for the US/NY, but I can imagine it might be. Restaurants, theatres, music scene, museum - you won't get that anywhere else, and you can have plenty of fun for $235,000.
(but maybe discuss with your girlf whether she wants it to be forever - that would be quite a different prospect...)