Making $50,000 a year and still barely getting by in Boston

[rado]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine...MeL/story.html

Surprised it's not more in the high $60's. Good area and apartments here EASILY start in the $2K for a 600sqft studio.

[lipripper]

that's going on everywhere bro...its sad really..

[dna9488]

Not surprised at all. Here in MD, at least in my area and surrounding areas, if you aren't hitting $60K, might as well live in a box or your car

[rado]

that's going on everywhere bro...its sad really..

I remember when people could have one job and survive

Not surprised at all. Here in MD, at least in my area and surrounding areas, if you aren't hitting $60K, might as well live in a box or your car

VW box:thumup:bus i mean....:D

[Bouncer]

What It Costs to Live in The 10 Most Expensive Cities in America | Inc.com

1. San Francisco
It won't surprise anyone that the city by the bay is the least affordable in the nation. It seems every day I hear of another young professional couple leaving there because they are planning a family and simply can't make it work in Frisco's sky-high real estate market.

But it might surprise you to learn just how bad things are. GOBankingRates estimates the cost of living comfortably in San Francisco at $119,570--outpacing every other city on the list by $30,000 a year or more. No wonder people are opting to relocate elsewhere.

2. San Jose
At $89,734, the cost of living comfortably in San Jose may seem like a bargain compared to San Francisco, but it's still very painful, especially if you're trying to stretch those startup funds into the longest possible "runway." Nicknamed "The Capital of Silicon Valley," it should surprise no one that San Jose is the second costliest large city in the nation.

3. New York City
With the financial industry, publishing, and the media largely centered in New York, the only surprise is that, at $87,446, the Big Apple comes in third on this list instead of first or second. This too is a punishingly expensive location, and its growing status as "Silicon Alley" will only make things worse.

4. Boston
At comfortable living expenses of $84,422, Boston is only slightly more affordable than New York. It too is a media and tech center, and also a center for elite higher education, with both Harvard and MIT in the area.

5. Washington, D.C.
It costs $83,104 to live comfortably in Washington, roughly similar to Boston and only slightly less expensive than New York. The obvious reason is the proximity to the federal government and our nation's seats of power. If you need to be near the government, consider the nearby suburbs in Virginia and Maryland. If not, consider living elsewhere.

6. Miami
Famous as a playground for the wealthy, Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States in a UBS study, and it also boasts the world's busiest cruise port. It also has the greatest concentration of international banks in the U.S., and it's been called "America's Cleanest City" for its air and water quality, green spaces, and clean streets. No wonder it costs $77,057 to live comfortably there!

7. Los Angeles
Best known as the world center of movie-making, LA is also a center for shipping (its port and adjacent Long Beach make up the fifth busiest port in the world). LA is also a manufacturing center, and hosts a growing startup scene. All this helps explain why LA ranks among the 10 most expensive cities, at a cost of $74,371 to live comfortably.

8. Seattle
Once considered a timber and aviation center that rose and fell on the fortunes of Boeing and the cost of lumber, Seattle has gained a lot of cachet in the last few years, and its booming economy, driven by Microsoft and Amazon hasn't hurt. With a constant influx of new people arriving in the area (including me) it's no wonder it costs $72,092 to live comfortably here.

9. San Diego
San Diego is the eighth largest city in the U.S. and second largest in California. It's a powerful tourist destination with its beaches, weather, proximity to Mexico, and such attractions as the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld.

It's also a natural deep water port and houses the largest naval fleet in the world, as well as the only major submarine and ship building yards in the U.S. On top of that, it's becoming a center for the biotech industry and has a growing startup scene. All this helps explain why it costs $69,307 to live comfortably there.

10. Chicago
The third most populous city in the U.S., Chicago also has stunning architecture, an iconic art museum and baseball field, a Great Lake, and a startup scene. It's said to have the most diversified economy in the U.S., with finance, retail, manufacturing, printing, food processing, and transportation all large industries here.

The only mystery about Chicago is why it's as (relatively) affordable as it is. The cost to live comfortably here is $68,67, more than $15,000 a year less than New York or LA, the other two of the three biggest cities in the nation. If you don't mind lake-effect snow, you should definitely consider locating here.

[jack tors]

^SF - crazy

[Bouncer]

^SF - crazy

pretty much why we decided to move where we did in Cali. we are close enough to San Fran and wine country to make easy day trips and enjoy it without having the crazy expense.

[jack tors]

i make more than $119 in NYC and i feel like im struggling at times. shouldn't I feel "comfortable" whatever the fuck that means.

[Bouncer]

i make more than $119 in NYC and i feel like im struggling at times. shouldn't I feel "comfortable" whatever the fuck that means.

well $119 dollars isn't much for NYC bro. move down to rippers village in the swamp and thats 3 months rent. :D

[jack tors]

well $119 dollars isn't much for NYC bro. move down to rippers village in the swamp and thats 3 months rent. :D

haha im going to buy a gator farm and have servants

[FrankTheTank55]

And they wonder why people have side hustles! Some people make great money with their "9 to 5" but then their kids hit college and now you have to pretty much take on an additional mortgage. My daughter starts college next year, $47,000 a year! So I have to sell Avon on the side to keep myself out of debt!

[Keiser]

You need 120k to survive anywhere around San Francisco. You'd be out on the streets living in a cardboard box if you made less than 100k.

[Mr I]

Fuck that it's out of control

[jack tors]

And they wonder why people have side hustles! Some people make great money with their "9 to 5" but then their kids hit college and now you have to pretty much take on an additional mortgage. My daughter starts college next year, $47,000 a year! So I have to sell Avon on the side to keep myself out of debt!

I hear ya brother... one yr made 50k $$ with side projects

[jack tors]

You need 120k to survive anywhere around San Francisco. You'd be out on the streets living in a cardboard box if you made less than 100k.

dam my good friend lives out there i know hes loaded but i guess he has to be.

worth it?