Cost of living in NYC? — Page 2

I'm living in the west village, rent stabilized, can't afford to move.

Craigslist.com is a good source of information. Brokers can charge up to 15% of a year's rent for their services.

Finding a job is almost as difficult as finding an apartment.

---

Gothampc - Isn't the west village a nice place to be in right now though? It's pretty upscale, right?

As for the job situation, I was skimming the other thread on that, but not too closely.

What kind of jobs/trades are readily available? Surely there's got to be something!

---

Honest question:

I was talking to a NY court judge on my flight from NYC back to Vancouver. She, and a couple who were immigrating to Canada from Staten Island, seemed to have strong feelings against living in NYC. They said that they stayed because of their livelihood, but that they weren't big fans of the city. I told them it's my favorite city in N. America, and they said it's good for "young, 20-somethings" like myself, but not so much as I/they get older.

Views? Opinions? Obviously the folks who are giving me advice on apts in NY are still living there, but what's your reasons? Is it a place I can *realistically* see myself relocating to for a long period of time?

---

Type, the west village is full of NYU students whose parents pay their rent. They have absolutely no clue that there is anyone in the world except them. They are trying to pretend that the village is like what it was in the 1960's. A 20-something student moved into my building a few weeks ago and asked me where was the best place to see the "next Bob Dylan". All the "coolness" has been pushed out of the village because of high rents and rich NYU students. There are a few of us who still know a few great places, but I wouldn't tell them to my own mother. Once a place has been Sex and the City-ized, it loses its appeal.

---

I think one needs to visit NYC at Least five times and stay there for weeks or months at a time.....Winter and Summer too...People come to Florence Oregon and love it in the summmer and never stay here in the winter, when it rains every other day.....They move here.....hate the winters and leave......

Well, obviously more than just 20-somethings live in Manhattan -- in fact very few 20-somethings can afford to live in Manhattan (other than those living in NYU housing which is the biggest landowner below 14th Street -- it seems like there's an NYU dorm every other block in the East Village). The vast majority of those who CAN afford to live in Manhattan are in their age group so I have no idea what they're talking about. Most of the city doesn't live in Manhattan and have comfortable existences.

Staten Island is the suburbs -- correction, the "country" -- and not an easy commute to the rest of the city (no subways go there, only buses, highways and that damn ferry). People who live there often have the mindset of the people you spoke to on the plane, that NYC is just a terrible place and they couldn't imagine living there (though they're technically part of it -- it's not surprising that it's the only Republican stronghold in the five burroughs, voting heavily for both Bushes, Dole, Reagan et al, while the rest of the city goes 80% Democratic). Ignore the Staten Island ladies....

I've lived here for 15 years and have zero plans on going anywhere and can't imagine living anywhere else in the US (Paris and Rome are tempting). Obviously there are eight million people here (6.5 million not in Manhattan) and not all of them are millionaire bankers, lawyers, stock brokers and entrepeneurs. Most are regular middle class and lower middle class people who have been here for years.

I lived in other cities before I moved here and found them ultimately boring. This is one of the few places in the world that is constantly changing and in flux with people coming and going, new restaurants, bars, museums, concerts, new plays opening weekly, movies, concerts, dance, opera, jazz, pop -- and you can get there for $2. When I want to take advantage of the millions of things the city has to offer, more than you could possibly ever do -- it's all there waiting for me outside my door. When I want to spend a quiet evening at home, I have a lovely place that's as peaceful as my parent's house in the suburbs of Maryland (and I'm not going broke to pay for it).

Are you going to want to live here for the rest of your life? Who knows? For chrissakes, who can predict the future? A year from now, you could meet someone, fall in love and move to cabin in the Smokey Mountains for all you know. Or you could be here for the next four decades as friends of mine have (one friend has lived in the same apartment since 1962 -- rent controlled for $200 a month). I have a dozen friends who have lived here in the same apartments since the 70s and 80s. I've also known people who left after a year or two. Whether you're here for a year or twenty, I think you should take the time to explore the city and all that it has to offer.

---

Updated On: 9/26/04 at 11:33 PM

It cost alot of money to move.....I am going to live in a Convent for awhile......experience the life in NYC and then make up my mind if I want to move there.....I will also check out the Jobs and go from there.....Maybe six month stay!!!

First of all I wouldn't make any decisions based on what one couple said. I think the fact that people consider NYC the greatest city on Earth speaks for itself. I grew up in St. Louis, and personally I will never leave NYC. You know there are certain things you give up (a yard, space, etc) but you gain a hell of a lot more. The culture, the diversity, New York can offer so much more than any other city, in my humble opinion.
Also people have said that you have to live in bad conditions to live in NYC. It's simply not true. There are deals out there, you just have to search a bit to find them. There are certain areas nearby - Brooklyn, Jersey, etc - that are nice. But I would try to find something in Manhattan first if you can afford to. I babysit for people in Jersey. Technically it takes 13 minutes to get into Manhattan, then factor in travel time to wherever you're going in Manhattan, the time does add up. Also I've had some friends in some really sketchy places in the outer boroughs. I think this was b/c they found "great deals" which were realy good sized apts in scary areas. This happens in Manhattan too so please don't think I'm saying it doesn't. Just really check into everything thoroughly. You can find places out there that are reasonable and great.
I also want to say once again that I wouldn't give those people a second thought who said NY was only for 20 somethings. I recently was reading a rental guide that gave the demographics of every neighborhood in Manhattan. The majority of New Yorkers are 40+ - I think that speaks for itself.

Don't worry, I'm not going to base my decision solely on what those 3 people said to me. I'm truly interested in a lot of input from everyone. Personally, what appeals to me about NYC is the fast pace, the fact that I could try a different restaurant every day and still not have eaten everywhere by the time I die, the theatre scene, the culture, the museums, the shopping, the general environment.

*le sigh*

---

My friend lives in the village and pays 900 a month to share a one bedroom and that is on the lower end of the rent scale!

---

Sorry for my ignorance - I thought they got rid of rent stability in NYC? What are the regs now?

---

Finding a place is hell. Anyone out there in the city looking for a roommate, let me know.

---