how much does it cost to live in manhattan?

Answer 1

Rent will be $3000-8600 a month depending on which block and side of town you are in. Then, you have the utilities, and your food/groceries. People that live in Manhattan don't need cars, but they rely on taxis and subways. If you want to have a social life--you will need to have funds to cover going out to dinner/ drinks, shopping, movies, plays etc--that's a hefty penny.

So, in order to live well in Manhattan, you need to earn 6 figures.
If you want to live cheaper and still have access to the high life, then consider living outside of Manhattan in one of the boroughs or NJ.

Word to the wise NYC is not like Friends show or Sex in the City. If you want an apartment like any of those characters, you better think again! Honestly, they don't exist, unless you don't mind spending several million dollars!

Answer 2

The key to keeping living cost down while in Manhattan is to find a roommate. I found my roommate through craigslist.com and am living in a beautiful 2 bedroom apt on the Upper East Side for $900/month (we split the rent.. it's $1800 total). So figure as long as you find a roommate your rent will be somewhere between $900-$1200/month (this is the low end). Then you will prob split the amenities (i.e. electric, cable, internet) with your roommate which is on avg depending on what kind of cable/internet you get prob $100-$200 more per month. You do not need a car in Manhattan.. your metro card will be $76/month which will get you around all of the subways and buses (cabs are very expensive.. so stay away from them as much as possible).
In terms of enjoying what the city has to offer.. it's very expensive to go out. Drinks are on avg $6-$7 per beer and $9 per mixed drink.
I love living in Manhattan and would not live anywhere else, but I am def paying a large price for that decision!

Answer 3

ALOT, my sister lives in Manhattan and for a one bedroom (800 sq ft) she pays around $3000 a month rent. I live in South Florida and pay $1600 a month mortgage on a 1300 sq ft house (3 / 2.5) with a driveway and back yard. The last time I was up there we went out for drinks with some of her friends. I bought a couple of rounds to the tune of almost $100 for five people. The only upside is she doesn't have or need a vehicle (no gas, payments, insurance, parking, etc) Although I don't think the money evens out.

Answer 4

As far as rent is concerned, the answer to your question depends on the specific area in Manhattan and how much space you want. You can spend anywhere from several hundred for a studio/1BR apartment in East Harlem to several thousand per month for a 1BR that overlooks Central Park.

When I lived on the Upper West Side, I paid $2700/month for a 1BR less than a block from Central Park. I also know someone who pays about $1500 for a 1BR in Chelsea, but he has had the apartment for several years and paid a broker a substantial fee to get the rent-stabilized apartment.

The subway and buses are pretty convenient to most areas in Manhattan so your transportation costs will tend to be lower than other cities where one must own a car. Food tends to cost more. State and local income taxes also lop off another 10% from your paycheck, but hopefully you'll be getting paid more in NYC as well.

Answer 5

estimate about 3k a month @ the least 4 the rent alone