At what price difference is it no longer worth it to live alone?

[MusicJunkie]

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My friends and I were having a discussion on this today, and I wondering if anyone had any thoughts.

 

[KnuxNole]

Personally...if the only single apartments were $2500 a month or more, I'd decide to live with roommates(while cringing on the inside).

 

[MusicJunkie]

Personally...if the only single apartments were $2500 a month or more, I'd decide to live with roommates(while cringing on the inside).

$2,500?!

Where do you live?!

 

[pre med 2014]

Personally...if the only single apartments were $2500 a month or more, I'd decide to live with roommates(while cringing on the inside).

Boston/New York/LA. All those places you're looking at $1500/month and that's just to split with a roommate for a decent apartment.

 

[MusicJunkie]

Boston/New York/LA. All those places you're looking at $1500/month and that's just to split with a roommate for a decent apartment.

Ah, very true indeed.

 

[KnuxNole]

$2,500?!

Where do you live?!

Haha, I was mainly kidding 😳

I'm sure somewhere they have those prices...and I'd probably find somewhere else to live. I aint made out of moneybags! If I was to live in NYC/LA, I'd stay away from the tiny closet size apartments(not to mention pricey!!!) and find a cheaper place that is farther.

But to answer your question, I think it varies based on the person. It is cheaper to split rent with others. However, I suppose you can look at it as you are paying extra for having a place to yourself.

 

[Edward Bernays]

Don't live with others. It's horrible.

Best,
E. Bernays

 

[survivordo]

Obviously going to be personal taste but my view on this has changed since I bought a home. I used to hate having a roommate. Now I can easily deal for the $$$ he is putting toward my mortgage every month 🙂

Survivor DO

 

[earf]

Boston/New York/LA. All those places you're looking at $1500/month and that's just to split with a roommate for a decent apartment.

You mean $1,500/month for two bedrooms right? Not for each person. I've been looking at places in LA (Pasadena, Silverlake, even Downtown) and it's about $1,600-$2,100/month for a two bedroom apartment, meaning each person would technically pay about $800-$1000 per month. Unless you're planning to live in luxury, I don't think it's reasonable to expect more than $2,000 for a two bedroom apt.

Even with planning to share a place with my significant other, I don't think I'd accept any place above $1,400 for a one bedroom apartment.

 

[earf]

To answer your question, I think it's worth it to live alone if you're paying no more than $1,000/month

 

[TangoDown]

I'm probably moving into my own place in a couple months (20, live with parents and attending CC). It's a studio in San Francisco so the rent is already insane (a bit more than 1k). I was going to live with a good friend of mine but he's confined to looking for places in ****ty parts of Oakland and my family is tentative about that (since I don't drive, I'd be walking through Norcal's "Compton" at all times of night). Now I've worked in some horribly ****ty areas but living in one is a different story.

I'd prefer to live with a friend or three, but maybe that's because I haven't and probably will never have the "real college experience" consisting of dorm rooms/apartments and other assorted "bruh" things. It really comes down to who you're living with though. A friend is great but if they're messy and irresponsible, they can go live somewhere else lol.

Though it'll be nice to live in my own place and thus have a lot more responsibility. The apartment we live in now is tiny for 3 people (read: 1 bedroom apartment) and utterly disorganized.

I say living alone is fine if:

You can afford it.

You aren't the type of person who has to be around other people 24/7.

 

[Planes2Doc]

It depends. I moved back home with my parents after living alone in a fun expensive place. As long as they give you freedom, it's fine. The rent money, especially with the 7.9% interest from GraduatePLUS loans will add up quickly.

 

[typicalindian]

It depends. I moved back home with my parents after living alone in a fun expensive place. As long as they give you freedom, it's fine. The rent money, especially with the 7.9% interest from GraduatePLUS loans will add up quickly.

How did you find living at home during med school? Did you live far from school? Did you spend most of your time at campus studying, and then just go home to sleep/eat/relax?

 

[Planes2Doc]

How did you find living at home during med school? Did you live far from school? Did you spend most of your time at campus studying, and then just go home to sleep/eat/relax?

I find living at home fine, considering that I spend all day studying. 🙁 I live forty minutes from campus, but only go to required labs and the few PBL sessions we have. There are definitely days during the week where I don't go to school. The commute is a pain if you actually go to lecture. I am also one of those odd people that can't study in a library or public spaces. I study exclusively at home, in my bed, wearing audiophile headphones. Most people aren't like that though. If you prefer libraries to study, that doesn't mean it has to be your school's library. You can do a local one as well. It might be better too since you won't be distracted by classmates. Contrary to what you would think, I do everything at home. I am in my own little space, and no one bothers me. Why spend over $1000 a month for just another space, or if you study on campus, then a place to just eat and sleep?

 

[CyberMaxx]

With my budget as it is right now, anything over $ 700 per month would really require me to have a roommate. Even this is stretching it. However, I really wouldn't want to live by myself yet, I enjoy having roommates to hang out with. 🙂

 

[Ismet]

I pay $650/month for half of a 2 bedroom apartment, and my classmates in singles pay $900-$1000. That's more than enough of a difference for me to not want to live in a single. Annually, that's $3600+obscene interest less I have to be in debt at the end of med school.

 

[earf]

With my budget as it is right now, anything over $ 700 per month would really require me to have a roommate. Even this is stretching it. However, I really wouldn't want to live by myself yet, I enjoy having roommates to hang out with. 🙂

I lived with a roommate in undergrad and loved it. Paid $400/month for half a room (had four people in a two bedroom apt). For me, I don't really care where I live since I'm usually too busy to be there anyways. I study best in coffee shops and libraries. It all depends on personal preference.

Also, don't forget that if you live alone, you would be paying for bills and utilities all by yourself, especially important when it comes to Internet.

 

[Member 331305]

I want to live alone for at least my first year, and I'm willing to max out my loans to make that happen. Med school is going to be more demanding and require more discipline than anything I've done so far, and I just can't risk getting stuck with a distracting or inconsiderate roommate during one of the most intense adjustment periods of my life. I'll consider getting a roommate after surviving MS1 and after making friends in my new city.

 

[Ismet]

I want to live alone for at least my first year, and I'm willing to max out my loans to make that happen. Med school is going to be more demanding and require more discipline than anything I've done so far, and I just can't risk getting stuck with a distracting or inconsiderate roommate during one of the most intense adjustment periods of my life. I'll consider getting a roommate after surviving MS1 and after making friends in my new city.

Please don't. Not much is worth doing that.

 

[MusicJunkie]

Please don't. Not much is worth doing that.

I'm trying to avoid taking out the max as well. Nothing beats sticker shock after seeing your COL and tuition fees.

 

[Lexdiamondz]

Boston/New York/LA. All those places you're looking at $1500/month and that's just to split with a roommate for a decent apartment.

I mean if you're looking at the nicer spots in manhattan then yeah it's gonna be that expensive, but there are plenty of 1 bedroom and studio apartments in NY for less than 1500 a month. Maybe it's because I live here but people tend to overhype the COL in NYC, its definitely not affordable but its not like only millionaires can afford to live here.

 

[Member 331305]

Please don't. Not much is worth doing that.

If my rent+bills total $1,500/mo, then I'll spend $18,000 on housing for the year. Splitting the cost 50/50 with a roommate would give me a savings of $9,000 for the year and $36,000 over all four years. Clearly I could save a ton of money by getting a roommate, but IMO that extra $9,000 is worth it for the first year, and if getting that extra $9,000 meant withdrawing the total COA for M1, then I'd go for it.

 

[Morsetlis]

I'm paying $500 + $150 (electricity/net) per month cause I'm splitting a 2br apartment. The roommie and I share food, cooking, cleaning, and supplies.

$1500/mo is inconceivable. Where do you people get all this money >_>

 

[plumhill]

I can deal with a roommate as long as I have my own bedroom. I've learned to let a lot of things slide...

The good thing about the midwest: my bedroom is 12 x 15 + a walk-in closet in a super safe part of town, and I'm paying under $500/month for rent and all utilities. I'd say that if I stay in the midwest, I wouldn't want to go above $700/month anywhere. 1br apartments are about $550-$600/month + utilities

 

[Ismet]

$1500/mo is inconceivable. Where do you people get all this money >_>

They max out on loans before realizing the 6.8% kicker accruing.

 

[darkjedi]

I would actually pay more to live with other people. I actually really enjoy having housemates. They have to be friends though.

 

[Bangersandmash]

Lord have mercy on all of you going to school in a major major city.

I'll be going to school in Tampa and rent isn't more than 750 dollars a month for a decent 1/1. If you split a 2/2 with someone, it's about 550 per person (1100 total). This includes utilities, sewage, cable/internet etc.

If you live in a crappier neighborhood, you can easily get by for 100 dollars less a month for the same setups.