My girlfriend and I make a combined $235,000 per year...need advice about NYC.

Don't let other posters frighten you away from NYC. It's fairly safe and there's still loads to do even though we've been suffering these last few years. If your wife will work on the UWS I'd stay away from the UES, it's a pain to cross town.

I've lived in the village, Gramercy, midtown and the UWS as well as Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and Queens.

Start off on the UWS and if you enjoy the city life after a few years yet find it too expensive then move to cheaper areas outside of Manhattan.

I don't know where to start. Just $10K more a year to go from Michigan to NYC where cost of living is probably around double or the vague Won't/Can't have kids comment.

It is a medical fact that some people - women or men - are incapable of ever having children, in a way that simply can't be overcome by "trying againm", IVF, sperm donation etc. If that is the case for the OP and his girlfriend, it's likely been very hard to come to terms with, so let's stop ragging on him shall we?

"Just adopt" - er, no. Having someone else's cast off, most likely (assuming a newborn) suffering from foetal alcohol syndrome and developmental trauma, really isn't the same thing.

Massive respect to anyone who adopts - it's way harder in a variety of ways than just banging your own sprog out, and definitely not equivalent.

Not at all, jagoff.

You need to research the logistics of a possible move before going too far into these interviews.

Are you suggesting to wait for an offer before figuring out how to move and change your entire life?

And knowing the cost of the move will figure into what kind of offer you might accept.

She shouldn't relocate for a pay cut - take current salary and plug into a cost of living comparison tool and make that the lowest you'll go.

just get a decent place in brooklyn. greenpoint isn't a terrible commute. close to mccarren.

This. I lived in NYC for 5 years in my 20s/early 30s. UWS and Park Slope. I loved the UWS (not so much PS). Central Park is the best -- still miss that place. Anyway, you guys have plenty of income to make it work, and even if you move back to MI in a year I doubt you'll truly regret the experience (I'm from the Midwest too FWIW). We might have stayed, but we did end up having kids (hence the move to PS) and I don't think it is a great place to raise kids (though plenty make it work). Not an issue for you though, and you only live once. Don't be afraid to broaden your horizons -- NYC is an amazing place to spend some of your life, especially if you've got some $$.

You will need to spend about 4-5K per month on rent for a decent one bedroom in Manhattan. Queens and B'Kln or even Hudson Co NJ (which is a short train ride away) will be slightly cheaper. It all depends on what type of building you are willing to live in. For these prices a walk up will get you a bit more space than a fancier building.

As a side note to OP, on your income alone ($175k approximately which is $235k less your gf’s $60k), transplanting your income from Michigan to NYC will result in approx $2k more in state taxes and maybe $7k of New York City taxes. That’s just on income. NY sales taxes are also ridiculously high.

There is one outdoor track in New York which is on 6th Street and Avenue D which the city is preparing to bulldoze to prevent global warming.

For Tempo and threshhold work you will want to try the West Side Highway, early morning is best as by 6:00 most hobbyjoggers who make far less than 100k annually start to come out and plod around and around. Sadly the east river running path is being bulldozed and nine feet of dirt is being put up, however running through times square and Wash may help if your goal is to get the B qualifier for the Duke Relays steeple.

Often jumping over Hochuls knife wielding homeless results in a better pliyometric workout which can help in the high steeple barriers (I assume you don't hurdle at womens steeple height). Anyways for intervals there is the armory and the lone outdoor track, while you may have to result to more creative runs. If you enjoy running around central park, I would suggest the course where Craig MF Mottram set the 8k Record a couple years back, if you live a more sedentary lifestyle, I would suggest going to Sheeps Meadow, rolling your sleeve up and putting your head down.

Best, Charles Christoph

5K 13:21

Income 100k+

Girlfriend: 9.69/10

Same income for you and $10k more for your wife makes your bank account go up $6k after taxes and such. You're going to be paying more than $500 a month extra for your living expenses in New York than your current situation. So you're going to be living a lower quality of life there, and I don't think it's appealing in general. The weather isn't really much better. And you have less green spaces than you currently have in Michigan. I wouldn't make the move, but if your wife reeeeaaaaallly wants to do it then it looks like you don't have much of a choice.

What?? That East river track is where I did all my workouts. What do you mean getting rid of it for global warming. What’s going to be there instead. Makes me sick. It was a track since the 50’s!

Simple cost of living calculators are pretty good gauges. $235k in Michigan (I used the capital of Lansing since I don’t know where you live) is about $500k in NYC and you need to double your income to maintain the lifestyle you have now. I’m not sure why your wife did not fight for at least $90k being that she’s not some fresh out of school college grad - or is she?

You may end up getting a new job in the city to make this work the way you want. Not to say your $175k salary is nothing (honestly it’s high/excellent for Michigan), but NYC is a whole different world.

Definitely try UWS. For your wife, walking to work is a huge plus. Close to Central Park and Riverside Park - both are great for running. Plenty to do. Especially starting out in NY, I'd go somewhere close to work with places to run. Once you know more about the city you may decide later on to move somewhere else in the city (or out of the city) but starting out the UWS seems like a great choice.

I grew up in NYC and you would have to be out of your mind to move there now with the “migrant” situation happening in Midtown. Out of your mind. Hope you’re aware….

5K a month in rent and all those taxes just to deal with getting mugged on the subway, your head bashed in, and all the trash…best of luck OP.

I haven't gone through all the other posts, but I'll give you my 2 cents.

I've lived here for 12 years now. It has its pluses and minuses.

If you want to live on the upper west side (or any further downtown, or more expensive parts of Brooklyn), expect to pay 3K-5K for a decent 1/2br. You can always live further uptown, Queens, the Bronx, NJ, or further out in Brooklyn for a little less, but you have to weigh up things like commute and proximity to things you want to do. I live in north Brooklyn, which for me has a good mix of being neighborhoody, while still having tons of stuff to do and easy access to Manhattan. My income is about what you and your gf make, so it's definitely doable here for that budget.

I would say if you have the opportunity, go for it. You can always leave if you don't like it. I moved here thinking I would only stay for 3-5 years but I found the pluses outweigh the minuses, especially if you aren't planning to have kids.

With the tax burden living in New York state and New York city, an increase of 10k for your wife's salary will be eaten up in seconds. You'll be paying federal income tax, New York state income tax and New York city has Its OWN income tax. $235k living in Manhattan for 2 is simply middle class. New York city is not the world class city it was 30-40 years ago, it has very much deteriorated. Your money is far better spent elsewhere. It's a huge mistake to move here.

He and his GF should live here for 4-5 years. I get the 5 year itch with jobs and locations and I start assessing the next move. You will know at that point whether or not you want a house or property or to be back with family. At some point you start desiring the quiet of the burbs and city living becomes a pain.

The other thing about living here is that a lot of people your age have already left for smaller cities because they want to have kids and not enroll them in the schools here. We call that “the last ones at the party” - you don’t want to be those people.

I still think you should move here for the experience.

You don't have a household income if you're not married. A live in girlfriend is basically a roommate that is in a relationship with you today only. She doesn't owe you anything! Get married,then start working on a plan.