Living in NYC on a budget - myth or reality?
>> Feb 25, 2019
New
York is a city with an abundance of opportunities. A cultural cocktail, unique
in its exuberance. Although known by many names and for a number of reasons,
New York isn’t known as being cheap. Surely, living in a city that's one of a
kind comes with a cost. However, is living in NYC on a budget really a myth
or rathera plausible reality? Is the city that never sleeps reserved only
for the well-heeled, or does the middle class have a standing chance? The
following lines will address this question in depth.
![]() |
Is living in NYC on a budget
feasible? We think it is, but let's see what it takes.[NYC seen from air in the
morning]
|
How much does it cost to live in NYC?
No matter the budget
you are planning on allocating for your move, it's imminent that you will need
to start with hiring a moving company. Since your ultimate goal is to
save money, but not skimp on the quality of service, hiring U.
Santini Moving and Storage Brooklyn is your best option. Besides being affordable, these
movers are experienced and efficient. After you have that covered, you can
familiarize yourself with the standard cost of living in the Big Apple. We can
summarize it with the following basic expenses:
- housing
- utilities
- transportation
- food
- miscellaneous
Now,
let us address each of these individually so that we can see what living in NYC
on a budget means.
Housing in NYC
This factor will take
the biggest toll on your wallet. If you plan on renting, know that the median
rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,638 in the New York metro area. In addition,
the suburbs, which are generally cheaper, were included in the data, making
this price tag an understatement. If you are interested in living in the
city's core, prepare to pay $3,895 for the average rent for a two-bedroom
apartment in Manhattan. Just for comparison, that’s roughly equal to the entire
monthly income of the typical U.S. worker. So, you will need to prepare your moving
budget well in advance.
Especially if you don't have a job waiting for you.
Buying a home in New York
The thought of buying
rather than renting may have crossed your mind. However, it's best that you
think again.The National Association of Realtors says that the average home
price in the New York metro area is $455,500. This, again, includes the
suburbs. If you are eying Manhattan, know that the average price is $848,600.
Brooklyn follows with $557,00, while Queens and Staten Island are close, the
former being $439,500 and the latter $432,600.
Is living in NYC on a budget possible
with these prices?
It is, but you need
to be ready for some adjustments. Living with a roommate, or a number of them
for that matter, can reduce the price of housing notably. You must also
be ready to pounce. You can see an apartment in the morning, only to have
another person sweep in with an offer in the afternoon. Consequently, it's
best that you have all your paperwork with you when you are seeing apartments
and be prepared to put in an application right away.
![]() |
Although abundant in space, NYC is packed. With no lack of competition, be ready for a fast race to the finish line that is a decent apartment. / an aerial shot of NYC |
The cost of utilities
Whether you rent or
buy, live on your own or with a roommate, utility costs are unavoidable. If you
include heating, electricity, water, and garbage, the average cost for a 915
square-foot place in New York is $127.02. This is, however, about 14% lower
than the U.S. average for a month’s basic utilities, that is $147.30. It is
worth mentioning that wherever you can save up, you should. Thus, consider
yet again living with a roommate, if you aren't already sharing a flat. It
will aid in living in NYC on a budget.
Transportation in the City That Never
Sleeps
Having a car is a
game changer in this particular instance. The reason being that it includes the
costs of buying, maintaining, insuring, fueling and storing the vehicle. What's
more, all that aside, the biggest expense may be the parking itself. The
average parking rate in downtown Manhattan is $533 per month, more than twice
the rate in expensive cities such as Los Angeles and Honolulu. Fair enough, parking
in Brooklyn and Queens is cheaper, but you will still need to plan on spending at
least a few hundred dollars per month to keep your car in a lot or garage.
However, there is a
way around this expense as well. Public transportation. The cost of a
single ride is $2.75 per trip, invariably. Unlimited monthly cards can cost
between $116.50 and $121. As seen from what was previously stated, this will
reduce the monthly cost of your life in this beautiful city.
Food costs
Depending on where
you live, groceries in New York cost between 28% and 39% more than the national
average. To put it in simpler terms, while you spend $200 per month on
groceries living somewhere else in the country, you’ll spend about $260
when you move to New York. And eating out is not the cheaper option, with the
prices being from 50% to 67% above the national average. So, how to save on
food? Even small cutbacks can make a notable difference. Opt for cheaper
alternatives when grocery shopping. Most of the times, you are paying for the
label, not for the quality. Compare the prices in your neighborhood. It might
be an onerous business, but it will pay off. And, if your situation is dire,
know that you can choose a good rewards credit card that provides cash
back or extra points for
restaurant and grocery store purchases.
![]() |
Renouncing a brunch or two will most certainly pay off / alt: a waiter holding plates of expensive looking food |
Miscellaneous
It's not that hard to
find affordable clothes in NYC. Indeed, it will require proper research, but it
will come out as useful. If you still want to save up, ordering your
clothing online is also an option. Going out can also come out as costly,
being that the average price of admission to a movie in New York is $14.00, as
opposed to the national average of $10.00. However, things like finding affordable
but safe storage units in Brooklyn can turn out to be easy, if you know where to look.
The main conclusion
to draw from this text is that living in NYC on a budget is indeed a reality.
However, it does require a little wisdom. You will need to do some
calculating and research but will come out as a winner in this marvelous
city.
![]() |
NYC during night-time, filled with people who make living in NYC on a
budget a reality
|
0 komentar:
Post a Comment