Hello there!

I was wondering if you guys could help me a little bit with my NYC moving preparations. I'd like to get a basic idea about the monthly living costs in your city especially with regards to housing. I'll be looking for a studio apartment or perhaps a shared two bedroom apartment somewhere near Columbia University (which is supposedly not the best area anway).
Has there been any development in the rents due to the financial crisis? Will I have to consider $1.000/m as an absolute minimum? Are there any ways to survive on a $1.200/m basis without having to starve/live on instant noodles three times a day? Any good links for research other than craiglist.org?

thanks a lot in advance!

___________________
"Those are my principles, if you don't like them... well, I have others.”

Last edited by TranceGiant on Feb-17-2009 at 10:28

That's a really tight budget. Manhattan is very pricey. Good luck with that. Rent might be less up there but overall most of the city is ridiculously expensive.

I think if you're hyper-aggressive or willing to compromise some major details, like, willing to live in 400 sq. feet, no real stove etc. you can get something in the $1000 area. More likely I think you'll be looking at $1,200 min and $1,500+ more likely. I don't know too much about Morningside Heights, but I do know if you veer a little too far south you'll be in the $2,000+ Upper West Side zone.

___________________
think stasis | latest mix

I live in morningside heights and its absolutely fine. Just stay south and west of the university (as far east as manhattan ave is lovely). Above 123rd is projects, tho. 1200 is an impossible budget. I got a steal from a person doing a favor and pay more than that just in rent (1500 plus everything else). Another TA on this board lives 4 blks from me and pays more than I do!


If u really need to budget that amount, go to washington heights. Its right on the 1 train, and to share a space will cost u 600-800 a room or so for a much bigger space.

___________________

if you dont mind the commute, you could always live outside of manhattan...

quote:

Originally posted by yankeeBaby I live in morningside heights and its absolutely fine. Just stay south and west of the university (as far east as manhattan ave is lovely). Above 123rd is projects, tho. 1200 is an impossible budget. I got a steal from a person doing a favor and pay more than that just in rent (1500 plus everything else). Another TA on this board lives 4 blks from me and pays more than I do! If u really need to budget that amount, go to washington heights. Its right on the 1 train, and to share a space will cost u 600-800 a room or so for a much bigger space.

wash heights? ahhh yea OP go there if you wanna get KILLED

I live in Hamilton Heights and pay $700 for my share of a 2 bedroom apt. That includes utilities. The outside of my building isn't fancy, but the apartments inside are great! Really big, extra tall ceilings (since I'm on the first floor) and we have really cheap laundry in the basement.

quote:

Originally posted by ownymcown wash heights? ahhh yea OP go there if you wanna get KILLED

actually, if you go up around 181st, its cleaned up nicely because of yeshiva. New cafe's, lounges, starbucks, etc. People have a bad view of the Heights, but now its split into good and bad sections because of gentrification. you have to know where to go! I dont live up there but I have friends who do...and they pay $5-600 each for a room in a HUGE apartment overlooking the water. veryyy nice.

seriously, though, getting a place in Morningside is a BITCH. All the students want to live there. Its close to school, close to 5 different trains (2 express...I am at 59th in 5-6mins), a huge park with a waterfall, waterfront access, beautiful architecture, riverside park. I LOVE it here and am VERY glad we go the hookup from this lady because our apartment would normally run for higher than the price we are paying. Plus, the closer you get to 110th, the more "upper west side prices" you will get (starting at $1800 for a one bedroom..easily!)

___________________

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/nfb/1038311109.html ---> 1300 for a studio in the 80s and 2nd ave. not a bad deal at all. you can find good stuff out there right now. rents have been lowered so keep looking and u'll find a good deal.. no need to move to the heights.

quote:

Originally posted by yankeeBaby actually, if you go up around 181st, its cleaned up nicely because of yeshiva. New cafe's, lounges, starbucks, etc. People have a bad view of the Heights, but now its split into good and bad sections because of gentrification. you have to know where to go! I dont live up there but I have friends who do...and they pay $5-600 each for a room in a HUGE apartment overlooking the water. veryyy nice. seriously, though, getting a place in Morningside is a BITCH. All the students want to live there. Its close to school, close to 5 different trains (2 express...I am at 59th in 5-6mins), a huge park with a waterfall, waterfront access, beautiful architecture, riverside park. I LOVE it here and am VERY glad we go the hookup from this lady because our apartment would normally run for higher than the price we are paying. Plus, the closer you get to 110th, the more "upper west side prices" you will get (starting at $1800 for a one bedroom..easily!)

i went to yeshiva uni. and starbucks, cafes and lounges are all on bway by the A train. that's actually Inwood, not the heights. if u take the 1 train to 181st u'll come out to st nicholas ave which is pure hell at any time of the day and i have to admit it really sucks. i had very good times up there but i wouldn't recommend it that much, also two of my friends got mugged.
during the summer the neighborhood is super loud so if u like to live in a quiet space, the heights is not for you. inwood on the other hand is much better (also more expensive) and u have an AMAZING park up there.

quote:

Originally posted by TranceGiant Hello there! I was wondering if you guys could help me a little bit with my NYC moving preparations. I'd like to get a basic idea about the monthly living costs in your city especially with regards to housing. I'll be looking for a studio apartment or perhaps a shared two bedroom apartment somewhere near Columbia University (which is supposedly not the best area anway). Has there been any development in the rents due to the financial crisis? Will I have to consider $1.000/m as an absolute minimum? Are there any ways to survive on a $1.200/m basis without having to starve/live on instant noodles three times a day? Any good links for research other than craiglist.org? thanks a lot in advance!

good luck!!!

if you plan on looking for a legal job in the US after you get your LLM from columbia law (if i remember correctly from the CoR thread) you should absolutely defer your admissions (if you can) so that you graduate in 2011. Since the NY legal market is so dependent upon the financial services industry, the legal market is taking a brutal beating. Every day we hear about more layoffs at big firms. There are simply no jobs, especially for foreign educated lawyers. NYU had less than 10 law firms on campus this spring (which is substantially less than in better years), and a special interview program in DC that usually draws more than 70 firms had less than 20 this year. A professor at NYU (a former Cravath partner and current UBS banker) told us in class today that the NY market is going to be tough for more than a year because the banks aren't going to come back to the form they once had. If you graduate in 2010 you will be entering the market at the wrong time.

quote:

Originally posted by jerZ07002 good luck!!! if you plan on looking for a legal job in the US after you get your LLM from columbia law (if i remember correctly from the CoR thread) you should absolutely defer your admissions (if you can) so that you graduate in 2011. Since the NY legal market is so dependent upon the financial services industry, the legal market is taking a brutal beating. Every day we hear about more layoffs at big firms. There are simply no jobs, especially for foreign educated lawyers. NYU had less than 10 law firms on campus this spring (which is substantially less than in better years), and a special interview program in DC that usually draws more than 70 firms had less than 20 this year. A professor at NYU (a former Cravath partner and current UBS banker) told us in class today that the NY market is going to be tough for more than a year because the banks aren't going to come back to the form they once had. If you graduate in 2010 you will be entering the market at the wrong time.

I hear you, and I'm pretty worried myself. On the other hand: Nobody can predict whether spring 2011 will be any better a time for graduation, job market wise. Moreover, deferring admission is always a bit risky and you can never be 100% certain your spot will be reserved for you, especially right now as I'm probably not the only one considering deferral - there's curently quite a turmoil in the admissions offices, I'm sure of that. I've put quite a lot effort into the application process and my previous studies here and I wouldn't wanna put that achievement at risk. Most importantnly, though, I simply have to make this cut here and change scenery NOW. For a variety of reasons, mostly personal - I know that if I'm not gonna break out now I might never do this step at all. I've got absolutely nothing left here, personally and career wise, and I'm sure I'd absolutely lose it were I to waste another year here, all the more as a "better future" is pure speculation as of now.

So: Yes, it's tough, I know that. Then again, foreign LLM students never had the best big-firm job opportunities other than short-term interships at intl. offices, if at all. I'll make sure to start going after those few remaining spots from day one (and even before), but I'll also keep an open mind as to other job directions. Frankly I'd temporarily take many law-related jobs (from public services to banking) as long as they guarantee my staying in NYC. I'd be happy to hear your input on that notion...

Thanks guys for the numbers and locations thrown around. Considering public transportation, how far, would you say, could I possibly live from campus without having to endure 1.5 hour subway rides every morning? Or to put it differently, what district is both reasonably close to Morningside Heights and still affordable? Thanks a lot!

___________________
"Those are my principles, if you don't like them... well, I have others.”

Last edited by TranceGiant on Feb-18-2009 at 11:27