gypsygirl

Looks like hubby has the job, so we are just figuring out if we can afford to live there! They didnt want to discuss wages until they offer us the job.
We lived in Manhattan 2005 for a few years, but need more up to date help with the cost of living please. We are a family of 5 (3 teens, one 5 yo) and will be living in Manhattan around Union sq/Midtown area.
This is the figures Ive got, please let me know if Ive forgotten anything, or if my figures are way off. Im only including the essentials and seeing whats left.

Rent $3500 (doorman, 3 bed apartment, utilities included)
Food £800 ($100 a week, $100 eating out a week)
Metro $416 (unlimited x4)
Car hire $1000 ($250 a weekend)
Gas $200
Netflix $20

B65

How exciting!! I cannot help with the costs, my daughter lives in Manhattan she just turned 23...and has just signed a lease on a lovely place for $2800 a month so i think the rent seems about right.... Do the children go to public schools in the city? I have an 11 year old and we were thinking of living in the city as hubby could commute from there....but it is just a thought as of now.... I am moving to NJ in 2 weeks so will be right by if you ever want to meet up in the city for coffee one day

Good luck and keep us posted

Bev

AmerLisa

$100 a week for three teens?

cranston

I was thinking the same thing.

britishspouse

With coupons its 100% possible

AmerLisa

Well who's going to pay $3500 a month in rent and clip coupons? ok that was a silly question... But seriously, a family of (the op says 5, but wouldn't it be 6?) living off of a $100? And $100 eating out? That might be one meal....

Mummy in the foothills

If she access to huge warehouse style discount grocery stores. Are there any of those in Manhattan?
We are two parents one teen and one 6 year old and I spend $150 minimum a week groceries with coupons and big discount stores.

Nutmegger

As others have said, the $100 wouldn't cover one eat-out meal for two adults, let alone a family. I also query the rent -- the $3,500 might work for a three-bed apartment, but the utilities would usually be on top of that.

nethead

We are a family of 7 and I easily spend $1000 per month (4 weeks) on groceries.

Oh and I'm not in NYC.

TimNiceBut

Actually you'd be surprised - coupon use is much higher with middle class families than it is with poorer families for some odd reason.

$100 for eating out in Manhattan might cover two trips to the hot dog stand or McD .

We try to buy "good" food and tend to shop a lot at CostCo, and with just two people we're likely to break the $100/week barrier for food. And that's not counting the cost of the food for our purry cat food processor.

Rete

Especially if they are grocery shopping in Manhattan where stores will have an inflated cost due to demand and lack of places to shop. We have a difficult time doing with $80 for a family of two.

As for $3,500 a mont for rent all inclusive, I wonder about the area and/or the size and type of apartment they are looking at.

I question the cost of a weekend car rental. You can get a zip car for less than that and/or you can use public transportation to get you around Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, etc. No need for a car.

Bob

The grocery budget, bit weak...that's okay if you're eating shit every day, but anything remotely healthy and not crap will cost more than that...especially stuff for the baby

Sod the car rental, get a Zipcar membership, it'll be cheaper.

Rent sounds cheap, if looking for utilities included...on top and it's more likely.

Factor a chunk of educational costs as they aren't cheap, the after school type sports, music, whatever....and day care for the littlest one if needed. That'll be a good chunk of change.

Elvira

Only February is 4 weeks, 3 years out of 4.

Those extra days........ 2-3 days a month!....... add up...

gypsygirl

Thanks for the input.
The food probably is a bit cheap thinking about it. I intend to do a monthly out of town shop and just buy fresh from the markets. I bake nearly everything so we dont spend that much now. I shouldnt think it would be that much more, maybe $50 a week would be better. I spend £100 a week now and think Im getting mixed up with that.
It is for 5 people, one of my kids are staying here.
We used to spend about $60 on meals out, trick is to not spend a ton on drinks, so we just have water with the meals.
We were paying $2600 with utilities and a doorman for a 2 bed in 2004, jsut saw a few last night that were around $3500 with utilities?
Ill check out Zip car

gypsygirl

Oh we homeschool so dont need to worry about the schooling fees, getting a few memberships like we did last time, not too worried about that side of it.