Comments on: When Half Your Income Goes to Rent

By: MikeTY

MikeTY — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:52:03 +0000

Obviously living in NYC versus a place like Columbus, OH is comparing apples and oranges. Everyone has their own view of what’s valuable. For me, living in the most vibrant city in the US if not the world, filled with motivated, super intelligent, creative people is worth the 35% i pay in rent. I meet people from all over the world who live in NYC – its something that doesn’t really happen in any other city. Having a large house in some boring suburban neighborhood is simply not worth it for me. For others, that lifestyle is not boring but what they prefer. I’m sure when I have kids I’ll move out of the city but for now the networking in my career field, the access to some of the best restaurants, parks, cultural options, etc… all make over paying for rent worth it. Obviously it would be great if it was lower but its simply supply and demand.

By: MikeTY

MikeTY — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:12:16 +0000

@moreteawesley but you’re living in philly. Philly may be good for women but its a horrible city for guys. I’ve lived in both places and the amount of single, successful women in Philly is very low. Unless you are in very specific industries, it also doesn’t have much in terms of career growth. I wish I could live in Philly but the downsides are just too high unfortunately so I have to pay insane rents.

By: Catline Boyish@facebook

Catline Boyish@facebook — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:26:28 +0000

@TheDilettantista
SHUTUP SHUTUP SHUTUP!!!! It is post like these that have created the estimates of population doubling in 15 years. We are getting over ridden with “Normals” from places like Indiana, Michigan, and NYC. The triangle is going to rapidly become the hell-on-earth which is the Atlanta metroplex. In the last month, they have flattened and removed 3 large forests near my house (Crabtree Valley, NCStates Umstead property, Lead Mine) to put in apartments for the onslaught. Please, I beg you, delete your post. Seriously.

By: Jeff Crystoff@twitter

Jeff Crystoff@twitter — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:25:19 +0000

Manhattan below Harlem has been out of the price-range of most people since you started being able to walk around the LES in flip-flops without getting Hep B.

We’d all love to live in the exact neighborhood/location we want and pursue our dream career in the arts but most of us choose not to and don’t bitch about it. Get over it.

By: Koko Goldstein

Koko Goldstein — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 23:10:22 +0000

@EvelynGarcia Yup yup. I live in Tucson, AZ and have wonderful weather most of the year, make good money, and we have some amazing culture and events here. Not to mention desert and mountains and canyons to hike around all day long. Living is super cheap, too. When I read these NY stories I am horrified. My boyfriend and I make decent salaries, and we’re paying a mortgage, my student loans, and all of our bills with about 30% of our monthly income.

By: thenotestaken

thenotestaken — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:54:03 +0000

@Megano! Ottawa is surprisingly pricey! I’m in Montreal (cheap rent hollaaa) but I helped my dude look for a place there and to be in the city proper is pretty expensive! Not to mention my friend’s parents live in Sandy Hill and their neighbors are always asking them when they’re going to “get a student” because spare bedrooms in that area go for like $2000. My bf ended up in Hull for about $500 but the lack of grocery stores is astonishing.

By: City_Dater

City_Dater — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:22:50 +0000

@Killerpants

Yes, I think we do get tired of the oversimplified “why don’t you move someplace cheaper?” as if all US cities were absolutely created equal. Many New Yorkers live here because the work we do is here and not someplace else with cheaper rents.

By: MuffyStJohn

MuffyStJohn — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:54:14 +0000

I pay just under half of my income in rent and utilities. I cannot wait to be let out of my lease so I can move somewhere less expensive (still not 33% of my income, but something more manageable). Thank God DC doesn’t have the insane broker’s fees to deal with (no, instead we have cutthroat apartment-hunting experiences modeled after something from The Hunger Games).

By: IWannaBeKate

IWannaBeKate — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:00:00 +0000

I live with the BF in a two bedroom place in Brooklyn for $1,775. We split ‘er up, and it’s exactly 42% of my monthly income, which saddens my heart. We get a lot of perks living there (central air, laundry in the building, a block from the subway, courtyard, rooftop, we love the area, etc. etc.), so maybe it’s worth it? I still seriously can’t wait to blow this popsicle stand and move out of the city.

By: The Dauphine

The Dauphine — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:58:21 +0000