A residents salary

1) Consider deferring this decision until you know the answer from personal experience
2) ask other residents at your program. I don't think you'll find much expertise on the Omaha rental market and the tax/benefit policies specific to your institution here on SDN.

 

After taxes, you'll get about 2400 a month (1200 every 2 weeks). (Just multiply 43K by 0.28, that's about the average for how much tax you'll pay and then what's left over divide into 26 "paychecks") You can afford about 800 or so for rent/mortgage and another 200 or so for utilities. That leaves you with your food and beer expenses (easily about 400/month--at least that's what mine are) and you'll have another 1000 left over for whatever--car, bill paying, etc. It sounds like alot, but it goes fast. That's pretty much my story, and I have friends who pay more for their homes/car and they are pretty maxed out.

Anyway, I just leased a new car and my payment is about 270 a month. I'd rather have no car payment and would have continued to do so for as long as possible, but my old car was starting to have problems and I don't have time to deal with car problems.

Have fun!