That $10K bump is not going to be material at all compared to change in cost of living. If you really want to live in that area need to look more at Dirty Jerz. still pricey but significantly cheaper.
Are you retarded? How do you make $235,000 and you don't have the intelligence to find out for yourself. The dumbest people somehow are the ones that make the big bucks. It makes zero sense.
I'm 38, my girlfriend is 34. We don't plan on/can't have kids. I work remotely so I can live anywhere in the US, but have chosen to stay in Michigan since both of our families are here.
Recently, my girlfriend got a call back for job in NYC (Manhattan, Upper West Side) which will pay her roughly $10K more than she is paid now. But it has been her dream to move to NYC so I was fine with her applying for it. Now, it is a becoming a reality which I didn't truly expect.
So, we are really considering the move now if she makes through the three rounds of interviews. With a combined income of $235K, where should we be looking to live? Any NYC folks here who can steer us in the right direction?
So she's happy being "my girlfriend"? Using her for practice? ( "Mad Men" quote.)
Odd how many people are going full Dave Ramsey esque about getting married right away or harping on your kids comment. We all live diff lives chill out people.
Plus do you really think every relationship works out that you don't co plan anything until marriage? That makes no sense.
And it's pretty insensitive about the kids comment. What if op has really tried and couldn't, or has a medical issue, etc. Could be hard for people to half attack him for not giving more info.
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Reason provided:
Word choice
I live on west 64th. Your income is extremely doable for NYC, so long as you know how to budget. Cook at home mostly, use the subway instead of cabs, etc. Explore craigslist for finding an apartment and second hand stuff.
JFC. Only on LR does it take about 10 posts of nonsense before someone can answer the question. At $235k, that’s more than enough to rent a good 1 bedroom on the west or east side.
No kids, no car payment? How about student loans?
You are looking at $5k per month for something acceptable in Manhattan. Good luck.
This is right but unless you're making a good chunk more than that, you're closer to middle class than billionaire living. An extra $10k to move from Michigan to NYC isn't an increase that makes sense to me. You should absolutely make it work/give it a shot to support your girlfriend but that extra money is going to be burned in rent/expenses. You won't save as much as you used to and you're trading in wherever you're living now for a 1 bedroom apartment. You just need to be cool with all of that going in.
NYC living looks different on $50k/$100k/$250k/$500k/$1mil but the reality is your expenses move with it & if you make decent money in a small city or a suburb you're living much more comfortably. $250k in Michigan means a house with a super affordable mortgage, maybe no car payment, being able to take whatever vacation(s) you want, etc. $250k in NYC means really enjoying the neighborhood you have & the 800 square feet you have to live in.
Why the harping on the kids issue? It’s because if there is even a chance they will have kids (e.g adoption) then NYC would be a not-so-great choice at this salary level. I have friends who have been through exactly this issue, where nyc was great before kids but not so much after. And minds can change quickly on this issue when both partners are in their 30s.
Also, a 10k bump in income is tiny in comparison to the increased cost of living.
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My girlfriend and I live in NYC and have a combined income that's less than yours but in the same ballpark. She lives on the UWS and I live in Brooklyn and if we move in together in the coming year, it will probably be in Brooklyn. I'm remote and she commutes 5-days-a-week (blargh) to city hall-ish.
The UWS is great! At your price point you can find a nice 1 or 2 bedroom pretty much anywhere. For instance these places look plenty nice
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.
Lighten up Francis. Im pretty sure at no point did he say they are making 10k more so no prob living in NY? I think he stated their income and the lack of a monstrous expense like having kids, and asked for advice? Kids/no kids is a pretty big variable.
1) A 10k increase in salary may actually be a salary decrease in NY. You will pay about 4% of your income to the city in addition to high NY state taxes. So something to consider.
2) NYC is a great place for childless people in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. It's one place where your social life can continue at all ages.
3) The UWS is a great neighborhood for runners. If you're looking for the NYC life definitely move to Manhattan. Brooklyn is full of moms pushing strollers. Depending on how much space you need/how picky you are, you can find studios and 1 bedroom walk ups in the ~$2500/month range.
4) Make sure you and your girlfriend know what it's really about. A lot of non-new yorkers move here thinking they're going to live some glam sex in the city lifestyle. NYC is so much cooler than it's depicted in tv shows for its sheer chaos, diversity, and vibrance. But people who come here looking for what they saw on TV are going to be disappointed.
You got some good advice. I would add that the UWS is really nice, but i would not limit my search to that area: running-wise, if you live within a mile from CP or the west-side park, you'll be fine. I am not a big fan of the UES, it is expensive and kind of dead compared to the UWS, but to each its own.
If you come to NYC for the "experience", then live in Manhattan, or very close to it. If you go to stay in New Jersey, you'll save money and have a nicer apartment, but you may as well stay in Michigan because going to the city outside rush hour is a nightmare.
Finally, don't limit yourself to fancy condos: there are a ton of walk-on townhouses that are nice and more affordable. No need to spend 5K on rent if you don't mind living a bit more frugally. One thing to be mindful about, however, is the noise level. Some areas can be extremely noisy, especially in the night-early hours of the morning: garbage trucks, ambulances, fire-trucks etc.. if you are not used to it and pick a noisy apartment it may drive you crazy. Visit the apartments during the week and make notice of any hospital/fire department/police department/helicopter landing/construction work that may be nearby.
Good luck.
P.S. I know it does not apply to you, but having kids in NYC is actually great. Most of the public schools are between good and excellent, and the social skills they learn in NYC will be incredibly helpful later in life.
