Ask HN: Living in NYC

Comfy depends on your version of comfy. I'd want to make at least $100K, myself, but I'm softer than some.

Depending on where you'll be working in Manhattan, you may want to also consider Hoboken, New Jersey. It's a walkable city and for the same amount of rent, the commute on the PATH train is often much shorter than the equivalent subway commute from the boroughs. The PATH train's a fair bit nicer, too.

Don't live anywhere that feels sketchy in order to save on rent. Not because it's unsafe - NYC is pretty safe these days - but because it's another source of stress when you're adjusting, especially if you're moving with a partner who doesn't have a job yet. New city + iffy-feeling neighborhood + no job = hard on a relationship.

Wherever you live, you're likely to pay more money for less space and less amenities than you had before. My advice: immediately start taking advantage of services like Fresh Direct and your local wash-and-fold. Dragging laundry to the laundromat and shopping in tiny, crowded supermarkets can bring a lot of new arrivals down. Especially, again, if these tasks are being done by a partner with no job yet.

where is your work? do you have a partner and where would they work?

Hard to say but you should definitely check out realistic rent prices. You should be making at least 40 times rent per year (and use more than craigslist to get price ranges — streeteasy.com has pretty real prices). I know that was a tough one being self employed for my first time here in NYC as they usually require proof that you make that amount in some form before signing a lease, or a guarantor. While I personally make more than some of the numbers I hear people throw out from time to time, it's not always an immediate increase in quality of life or affordability here, so it's worth considering that. You might fall in love with the city (as I did) which makes the sacrifice well worth it but not all people stick around.

Anyway, if you ask me, risks are worth taking from time to time. NYC was one I took and never looked back. Things change with families so you should decide what risk fits in with that lifestyle.

Look into places to rent in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island (closer to the bridge, the better). Most people commute into Manhattan from the boroughs as rent in Manhattan is pretty high compared to what you can get with a 30-45m commute from the boroughs

I'd say 75K+ should be comfortable for two people

An interactive map of income distribution by NYC neighborhood:

http://envisioningdevelopment.net/map