Reply With QuoteI would only reccomend Williamsburg to the bar-oriented <30. Otherwise I think Bococa is a better fit for similar money. I think Windsor Terrace might be a good fit for a young family - kind of a cheaper park slope vibe from what I've heard...
heyjude: Cannot say much about Queens (have not lived there) except that Astoria is very close to the Midtown Manhtattan by train.
Brooklyn: I never heard that name BoCoCa, but I see that's how they now call Carrol Gardens in Brooklyn. It's a very hip and trendy area with lots of restaurants and bars. I would say it's about 45 min commute to midtown. Park Slope has become very popular in the last few years. Real Estate prices there are rising like crazy. It will also take you about 45 min to get to midtown depending on where in Park Slope you're going to live. Only part of Park Slope is zoned for a good public school. Like with any area in New York, if you want to give your kids to the public school, you need to make sure the local school is a good one. I know that Williamsburg and Dumbo (both are much closer to Manhattan than other Brooklyn areas) are getting very popular these days, but don't know much about it. Clinton Hill is adjacent to Carrol Gardens and is pretty much the same neighborhood.
http://www.nycenet.edu/default.aspx - you can find the school here
http://www.insideschools.org/ -- scholl info and reviews here
I would only reccomend Williamsburg to the bar-oriented <30. Otherwise I think Bococa is a better fit for similar money. I think Windsor Terrace might be a good fit for a young family - kind of a cheaper park slope vibe from what I've heard...
A New York City Income Tax?
I just read on the Internet something about a New York City personal income tax and that it's about 9%, does that sound accurate? I assume that's just for NYC residents, correct?
We don't have that kind ofr City tax in Los Angeles so if it's true then I need to add that to my salary demand....Oh, what about the sales tax rate, about how much is that?
Sales tax is something like 8.125%.
We have a state income tax (imposed on all persons who work in NY State, wherever they may live). The rates run up to around 8% or so. We also have a city income tax (imposed on all persons who both live and work in the City). It currently runs up to about 4.5%, although Mayor Mike likes to raise it every so often to keep us honest. In California, you will have a state income tax (not sure what %s you pay out there) but not an LA city tax, so your net loss will be 4.5% plus the difference in state taxes.Originally Posted by scrow9
I believe sales tax here is 8.25%. It is not charged on groceries (but is charged on prepared food). There are periodic sales-tax-free periods for clothes up to a certain dollar amount, but I do not believe that has been made permanent.
NYS and NYC also find all sorts of other direct and indirect taxes to hit you with -- on your utilities and cell phone, cigarette taxes, tolls and incessant parking tickets, etc. A lady just got fined $50 for putting her shopping bag on a subway seat. Others have been fined for discarding "household trash" (ie., an envelope with your name on it) in a street can. The list goes on and on. Not sure if any of these will effect you.
Just bear in mind that, if you live in NYC, you have the honor and privilege of being subject to three of the four largest taxing authorities in the nation, the United States (#1), New York State (#2) and New York City (#4 -- right behind California State). Welcome, and congratulations.
http://www.bankrate.com/yho/itax/edi...ate_tax_NY.asp
If your total compensation is roughly 100K, you will pay around 10% in city and state taxes. State/city taxes are also deductible on your federal return, unless you're hit with AMT.
I cannot figure out, why don't you come here first and check this place out before you get a new job and move here long term?
Oh the reason for that is simple, I am applying for jobs both in the San Francisco area and New York (actually in several other cities and states as well but nothing is currently happening on those applications) If I can find a job here locally I probably will stay in California. At this time I simply cannot afford to take a trip to NYC on my own dime on the mere hope that I will find a job...instead I will wait for a serious offer or interview opportunity, have the company fly me out for the interview and then I may spend a few extra days looking around depending upon how the interview goes.
^ It is not a good idea to move here without visiting first. I would say that of anywhere, but especially New York.
Sorry if I wasn't clear about that TonyO
Budgeting For Monthly Commute Costs
What would you say would be a good estimate for my monthly commute costs from Brooklyn to Rockefeller center...right now I'm figuring $100 per month for subways and taxis but I could be way off since I'm just really guessing
$76 for a monthly metrocard. You wouldn't use a taxi to commute from Brooklyn.
What are reasonable expectations?
Hello!
First of all, I am so grateful to have stumbled across this site!
BACKGROUND: I will be moving up to NYC this summer for my job in Midtown Manhattan (off of 41st St.) which will pay me approximately $75K. I am a single, 23-year old female.
QUESTIONS:
1. Although I would LOVE to live in Murray Hill, after reading this forum, I think that that UES would be a better area for me instead because (a) I'm young and would like to go out, probably about 2 times a month or so, (b) I would like to live in a SAFE neighborhood, and (c) I will most likely find a more affordable apartment in UES. What would ya'll recommend?
2. I would like a nice, clean, and SAFE apartment (either an alcove studio or 1BR) in Manhattan with a 24-hour doorman, with possibly even an elevator. I don't know if that comes off as pretentious, but having never lived in such a large city, I think having a doorman may give both me and my parents some peace of mine. What range should I expect for something like this? I was budgeting approx $2,000.
3. What areas are pet-friendly? Although I don't plan on bringing my 20-lb terrier with me when I first move up, I would like to eventually move him out with me to NYC.
4. Assuming after taxes I can budget approx $4k a month, can I live comfortably in the city? Here are some of my breakdowns:
- Rent: $2k
- Bills (including high-speed internet and cable TV): $250
- Transportation: $76/month
- I don't plan on eating out extravagantly every month, although once in a while I would like to. I also don't plan on partying like a trustfund baby on the weekends, but I would like to have a drink here and there.
5. If the UES is ultimately the best recommendation for me, how would I get to work? How long is the subway ride (I heard that it's just AWFUL trying to catch the subway during rush hour, so I'm assuming this commute time should also include time spent waiting for available space?!) I'm hoping that by living in the UES vs. Murray Hill I will save on some cabfare since when I go out on the weekends, I'll be closer to home.
I apologize in advance for such a long post and really appreciate anyone who generously reads this entire lengthy post and answers my questions.
By learning as much as you can about the City from a distance, you've made a good start. But that's no substitute for spending some time here (at least a week, I'd suggest) to explore as many neighborhoods as you can and getting a feel about your new home town.Hello!
First of all, I am so grateful to have stumbled across this site!
BACKGROUND: I will be moving up to NYC this summer for my job in Midtown Manhattan (off of 41st St.) which will pay me approximately $75K. I am a single, 23-year old female.
QUESTIONS:
1. Although I would LOVE to live in Murray Hill, after reading this forum, I think that that UES would be a better area for me instead because (a) I'm young and would like to go out, probably about 2 times a month or so, (b) I would like to live in a SAFE neighborhood, and (c) I will most likely find a more affordable apartment in UES. What would ya'll recommend?
2. I would like a nice, clean, and SAFE apartment (either an alcove studio or 1BR) in Manhattan with a 24-hour doorman, with possibly even an elevator. I don't know if that comes off as pretentious, but having never lived in such a large city, I think having a doorman may give both me and my parents some peace of mine. What range should I expect for something like this? I was budgeting approx $2,000.
3. What areas are pet-friendly? Although I don't plan on bringing my 20-lb terrier with me when I first move up, I would like to eventually move him out with me to NYC.
4. Assuming after taxes I can budget approx $4k a month, can I live comfortably in the city? Here are some of my breakdowns:
- Rent: $2k
- Bills (including high-speed internet and cable TV): $250
- Transportation: $76/month
- I don't plan on eating out extravagantly every month, although once in a while I would like to. I also don't plan on partying like a trustfund baby on the weekends, but I would like to have a drink here and there.
5. If the UES is ultimately the best recommendation for me, how would I get to work? How long is the subway ride (I heard that it's just AWFUL trying to catch the subway during rush hour, so I'm assuming this commute time should also include time spent waiting for available space?!) I'm hoping that by living in the UES vs. Murray Hill I will save on some cabfare since when I go out on the weekends, I'll be closer to home.
I apologize in advance for such a long post and really appreciate anyone who generously reads this entire lengthy post and answers my questions.
Broadly speaking, there are no unsafe neighborhoods in Manhattan (at least among the ones you're considering). Your $2K should get you a nice studio apartment almost anywhere (that's what they go for in my building in one of the City's currently most expensive areas). Your other budget line-items are probably too low, though.
You don't say whether you're going to be working on East or West 41st Street. Most subway lines in Manhattan run North-South, not East-West; so if you want a one-train ride to work, you should live on the same side of the island as your office. The "UES" (at least the northern part of it) has some of the worst subway service (just one line) on the island. Don't discount the possibility of walking to work, which you probably could if you lived in Murray Hill and worked on East 41st. And don't assume that you're going to want to party or eat in the same neighborhood as where you you live; you probably won't.
Good luck!
Your "bills" estimate does, indeed, seem too low.
Some charges, per my own experience ...
Cable / high speed internet package from Time Warner: ~$140 / m
Cell phone: ~$65 / m
Electric bill (Con Ed): ~ $80 / m
Renters Insurance: ~ $40 / m
Total: ~ $325 / m
Other things to consider ...
+ Laundry
+ Medical / Dental check ups
Movies in Manhatan are $10 + (no bargain matinees here -- drat!!)
Still, on the salary you mention you should be fine ...
Keep us posted
Keep us posted
Thank you both!
My bills budget was a rough estimate, so I really appreciate the more realistic amounts that both of ya'll listed.
I believe my office is on "East" 41st St? It's near the Madison and 41st St.
As for the recommendation for visiting ahead of time, I think that's an excellent suggestion and may try to go and look around sometime in May.
Unfortunately, I still have a few questions left:
1. Does NYC do pre-leases? Although I can wait until June-ish to find an apartment, if it was possible to sign a lease on a place a few months ahead, it would be preferred. If they did allow this, then I would allocate more time in May to go apartment-hunting and sign a lease then.
2. How are the renting policies in NYC? Since this is my first real high-paying job, I don't think they'd be able to look at past pay-checks to determine if I can pay for the rent. Do they allow guarantors such as my father who has EXCELLENT credit history to co-sign the lease with me?
3. Where do most of the young professionals hang out? Closer around the UES area or Midtown area? Of course, I understand that I will be going out and about all over the city, but I was curious to know where "home base" might be.
Once again, I appreciate any and all of ya'lls help!
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