The price difference in the cost of living and property is astounding!!
I'm in shock, my house would cost about 105,000 to buy in Buffalo, but to buy the same one in the Queens area is about 700,000.
How does every one afford to live? And what the heck do they do for a living??
2006-10-05 13:24:44 · 8 answers · asked by blondie 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ New York City
My husband is an officer for NY State so our benefits won't change. We need to stay some what close to the airport. What would be a good town to live in with "normal" houses??
2006-10-06 13:09:58 · update #1
Thanks Jim C you just made my day!
As for every one else thanks for all you help. My husband has to live in NY as he works for the state, so I guess I'm screwd! IThanks for warning me about Jamacia!!
2006-10-09 09:12:55 · update #2
$ave some do$$ars...And get use to mass transit..
2006-10-05 14:42:05 · answer #1 · answered by Juliette 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I moved to Westchester County from Buffalo about 6 years ago, and I couldn't believe the cost of living either. In fact, I had to rent an apartment, and there were actually brokers that you could pay 20% of your first year's rent for them to find you a place!!!! My apt. in Buffalo was awesome, it was a lower of an upper/lower house, garage, 2 bedroom, full basement, backyard, and it cost $475 per month (not including utilities). I lived in North Buffalo.
Anyway, I wound up finding a decent apartment in Rockland County (worked in White Plains) but it was over twice what I paid in Buffalo, and only one bedroom. And a hell of a long way over the Tappan Zee Bridge to work!! It was an apartment complex, so I luckily did not have to pay a broker's fee.
Anyways, I know you are buying a home. My fiance's parents live in Flushing, Queens, and they live in a nice neighborhood, and their house is probably worth almost a million. In Buffalo, you could buy the same house for $200 K. It is disgusting how much much it costs, believe me I know!!!
I now live in Connecticut (still commute to White Plains), and we bought our townhouse for $280,000, wow what a deal (yes, sarcasm). It is a nice townhouse, (2 bedroom, one and a half bath, full basement that just got flooded out recently, and a big backyard). It is a duplex, and we only have one other neighbor on the other side. In Buffalo, I would estimate the same kind of place would have cost maybe $75,000.
I work in Human Resources for a not-for-profit, so I get good benefits, but not a great salary. My fiancee works for a hedge fund company and makes good money (in the city-he commutes over 2 hours every day by train). He lets me "slide" on my part of the mortgage, LOL. He does pay for most stuff, so I just pay my student loan and credit cards, and help out as much as I can with the mortgage (oh yeah, and we just found out we have to buy a new roof!) Joy.
Good luck. Most parts of Queens is very nice. Stay away from Jamaica, I know that for sure. As I said, Flushing is nice, but the homes are very costly. Like most of the tri-state area!
Another suggestion-you may want to try New Jersey, there are some nice areas there for much cheaper than NYC. Or even Westchester (northern), but I think you said you had to be close to an airport? White Plains does have an airport. Connecticut (Fairfield County) where I live is expensive, but the taxes are cheaper here which helps.
Good luck again!
2006-10-07 20:39:32 · answer #2 · answered by Left Footed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The standard of living is much higher in NYC, so on average salaries in NYC will be higher than salaries for the same jobs in Buffalo. In addition, most employers in NYC offer decent benefits - the job market is tough here and employers are willing to pay out more in order to keep good employees. Even if the salaries are the same, in order to stay competitive, a lot of employers offer really great benefits. Also, consider that most families in NYC are two-income families - for most NYC children, both parents have to work.
2006-10-06 03:54:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not 'living'-more like surviving.
Most jobs tend to pay more than in other cities, but you spend all this extra money on the extremely high rent or real estate.Why are you moving anyway? From my own personal experience, you could live in other cities making less money than you would in NYC and live a great deal easier. That's why I left.
Good luck
2006-10-05 16:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by Tiberius 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just got back from NYC this afternoon. DON'T GO!! I'm from Rochester and am familiar with Buffalo (Go BIlls!!). Stay in Buffalo.
2006-10-08 14:56:58 · answer #5 · answered by Jim C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hope you'll bring a lots of mula(money). Good luck!
2006-10-05 17:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by nanrai18 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only $700,000 ? must be the getto.
2006-10-05 22:50:55 · answer #7 · answered by ccfromnj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you better check around to see, with your friends, who are the best movers and also if they have any insurance in case that they damage your furniture.
i wish you the best of luck.
vote for me, please,.
2006-10-05 20:13:20 · answer #8 · answered by soar_2307 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋