Cost of living in NYC?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:06pm

This was discussed a while ago but I can't seem to find the thread. I'm hoping to re-locate to NYC in the next couple of years, and I was curious as to the price of a 1 or 2 bedroom apt in Manhattan and the boroughs. What's the bottom price I can expect to get a decent loft for (like, no cockroaches, bathroom in the kitchen, etc.) and what's the location like? I'm not expecting a Sex&theCity-type place. Just something very basic and (relatively) inexpensive.

[jakebloke]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:07pm

you looking to buy or rent?

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:08pm

A lot.

[jakebloke]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:11pm

Yeah...either way....$$$$$ the only thing cheaper in NYC than other places are roses....well the ones you buy at the corner.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:14pm

It really depends on what area you live in. In my building on the upper west side I believe a one bedroom is around $1,500 a month. If you look in Brooklyn things get much cheaper.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:21pm

Renting. I can't even afford to buy in Vancouver, much less NYC.

What are the more inexpensive parts of Manhattan?

[jakebloke]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:48pm

There's no cheap areas. But the West Village is up there in the more $$$ areas to live.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 6:55pm

There really aren't any cheap parts of Manhattan anymore, except maybe Washington Heights or upper Harlem and even then not always. Go to Brooklyn or Queens -- much cheaper, much more space.

I live in the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area of Brooklyn, one stop into Brooklyn (I can walk out of my apartment and be in the East Village in less than 15 minutes and in midtown in less than a half an hour). The neighborhood has the whole young artist feel the Village had a decade or so ago, only cleaner and safer, with lots of restaurants, bars, performance spaces etc opening left and right. I live alone in my own two bedroom apartment, with two terraces (one with a view of the Manhattan skyline), a washer dryer, a roofdeck and other amenities, on a quiet tree-lined block two minutes away from a beautiful park and I pay less than friends in Manhattan living in tiny studios smaller than my living room. Mind you, Manhattanites have unfortunately discovered the neighborhood and prices are beginning to skyrocket (one bedrooms are starting to go for $2000+, and two bedrooms for over $3000 in some cases -- thankfully I've lived here for a few years).

If you want to live almost anywhere in Manhattan, you'll almost have to have a roommate or two and unless you're extremely lucky, in most cases expect your share of the rent to be around $1000 a month. You might check Chinatown, Hell's Kitchen (which I think the real estate people call Clinton now), the upper east side (oddly, though it's one of the ritzier areas of town, I've had several friends find deals in the east 80's and 90's), and MAYBE the lower east side (though I doubt it). You'd be better off in Williamburg, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens or Fort Greene in Brooklyn or in Long Island City or certain parts of Queens Boulevard in Queens.

There are deals out there (check the Voice) -- good luck.

[shesings]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 7:01pm

Ok, I have lived in a few neighborhoods in NYC, and its all been very expensive. I had a one-bedroom midtown east that was 1800 a month, as well as an upper east side studio for 1750. I am currently living in a studio that is 1830 (but it is in a "luxury" building with doorman, concierge, etc - and its the same sq fottage as my one bdrm). Generally my electric bill is around $100 a month, phone is about $30, cable is $120 (but I have cable modem and premium service). Groceries are what really kill me. They are so much more expensive that the rest of the world. I've been going to Target and Brooklyn for a lot of stuff lately b/c its so much cheaper. For instance a Totino's pizza is 1.09 at Target, but 3.50 at the grocery store in Manhattan. Factor is you metro card (monthly is like $70) and cabs rides too. Overall its pretty expensive, but I've found that jobs start pay at higher rates as well. And just being in Manhattan is well worth it! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 7:09pm

Thanks for the advice, folks! (expect that pm soon)

What type of sq footage am I looking at for a 1, 2 BR?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 7:11pm

what are some good real estate websites out there for nyc?

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:20pm

Margo... can I come live with you?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:22pm

Where? In the maid's quarters? I wouldn't advise it -- Nursie's very territorial about her room.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:26pm

just west of the Hudson is Jersey City -- I am 5 minutes into downtown NYC (World Trade Cener), have over 1800 square feet of space and a car...I work midtown and am in the office door to door in 25 minutes...Jersey ain't all bad folks....and I have a great view f the harbour and lady liberty!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:36pm

KMF --

I have several friends who live in Jersey City and Hoboken and have similar stories. Their commutes are all less than a half an hour and their rents are all roughly half of what they would be for roughly the equivalent apartment in Manhattan.

There was a time in my 20s when I was out every night and I felt that I HAD to live in Manhattan, even if that meant living in a poorly maintained shoebox in a tenement with unreliable heat and water pressure, slanted floors and vermin of all shapes and sizes. Not anymore. It's funny -- over 80% of New Yorkers don't live in Manhattan, often have nice, spacious places with backyards or terraces in decent neighborhoods that are within a very short distance of Manhattan. Took me a while to realize that.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:39pm

I'm going through the hellish experience of trying to find a place and a roommate in Manhattan as well. Needless to say I don't sleep much at night anymore.

[buddha2]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:43pm

I'm rent stabalized in Chelsea at 15th and 8th for $550 incl utilities, sm 1 bdrm. I guess I'm fairly lucky. Been here 15 yrs though.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:45pm

Oh just shut up, Buddha!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:46pm

Wow! What's the sq footage? (What's the general sq footage for a 1/2 BR in MAnhattan?)

Margo - That actually enlightened me, because I am one of those 20-somethings who feel the need to BE in Manhattan (but after visiting NYC in April and seeing how efficient and fantastic your subway system is, I'm willing to think differently).

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:01pm

As much as we complain about it, the subway is truly a miracle and the best deal in town. It runs 24/7/365 and despite the delays and construction, 90+% of the time, it functions without incident.

I know a LOT of 20-somethings living here in Williamsburg. As I said, it has the same energy the East Village did in the early - mid 90's when I lived there -- if you look down the platform at the Bedford stop on the L, the first stop into Brooklyn, most of the time the average age of the people waiting for the train is probably 24 - 28. There are lots are bars and clubs here, but whenever you feel like heading into Manhattan, it's one stop on the L to the East Village (a less than 5 minute trip).

Updated On: 9/26/04 at 09:01 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:08pm

I was going to reiterate chinkie azn's question about any good websites for realty in NYC.

I'm scrolling down to find out about Williamsburg - is it part of Queens? (That would be a bonus for me - I'd love to be close to MoMA!)

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:12pm

me too!!!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:28pm

Astoria, Queens is hugely popular for theatre folk. It is much cheaper than Manhatten and only 20 - 30 minutes from my apt to Times Square--same as most any drive to work I ever had. The neighborhoods are very friendly. I would look at apts anywhere off of the Broadway, 30th Ave, Astoria Blvd, or Ditmars stops (maybe 36th Ave, as well).

Found my apt on craigslist.org

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:45pm

Oooh, good stuff on craigslist!

Sorry if this sounds ignorant, but what's this broker fee and such? I'm just trying to figure out which category I should be looking under. What are these different fees?

all apts (includes by-owner + no-fee broker + fee broker + registration fee)

all no-broker-fee apts (includes by-owner + no-fee broker + registration fee)

all no-fee apts (includes by-owner + no-fee-broker)

by-owner apts only (no brokers)

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:49pm

I was there too Margo -- HAD to have the Manhatten address...I got over it after a while as I started going out less and less -- I was luck to be able to buy here before everything went wild -- now apartments smaller than mine are selling for upwards of $750K....