Is NYC actually cheaper than Philadelphia?

[bananaman]

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[bkpa2med]

NYC is alot more expensive.

 

[dilated]

Assumptions: Other cost-of-living factors are minimal (food, etc.). New $20k car.

those are terrible assumptions. everything in NYC is more expensive and I have no idea why you need a new 20k car as a resident considering you'll have no time to use it. plus you'll drop 1-2 grand on the subway depending on how often you ride.

 

[bkpa2med]

Well you can get an unlimited metrocard for about $70/month.

 

[slope]

bananaman, you couldn't be more wrong than that! NYC is, by and large, way more expensive than Philly in every respect.

 

[Neuronix]

I actually would agree to some extent with what you're saying. You can live without a car in Philadelphia (I do), though it's easier to do it in NYC than in Philly. I've been shocked by the rising cost of living here in Philly over the past 5 years since I moved here. It's hard to find a decent 1BR apartment in center city now for less than $1000. Alot of buildings are getting towards NYC prices. I do still think overall the cost of living is going to be higher in NYC, but maybe not by as much as some people think.

BTW, if you live in CC a monthly card on SEPTA is also $70 (I think). If you live in the burbs, the "regional rail" is much more expensive and much less convenient than the NYC subway system, even though they cover a roughly similar area.

 

[bananaman]

How about the same argument for Boston vs. NY?

 

[DarksideAllstar]

How about the same argument for Boston vs. NY?

You can find a cost of living calculator, which will allow you to compare any two cities you want...

Edit: Didn't want you to have to look these up on your own...

Here's One

Here's Another

Here's a third

 

[edmadison]

Don't forget that taxes are huge in NYC. You pay state AND city income tax. Plus your sales tax is large. Everything is more expensive. There are very few large grocery stores. You'll get rooked on food by the corner bodega. Also, since there are so many little restaurants, you'll eat out alot more. It's unlikely that you'll have your own washer and dryer in your apartment so you'll end up sending your laundry out (no time to do it at home). Your only real savings is that you can easily do without a car.

Ed

 

[jennie 21]

Yup, sorry to say, NYC is much more expensive. Utilities are more; groceries are a lot more. If you use cabs that adds up too.

 

[Neuronix]

I do this comparison because I live in Philly now but am thinking about NYC or elsewhere for residency. I've been to NYC many times, though I've never lived there.

Don't forget that taxes are huge in NYC. You pay state AND city income tax.

Same in Philly. PA income tax averages 5.5%, NY income tax averages 6%. Philly city tax is is 4.6% if you live in the city. If you just work in the city and commute in from the burbs, it is 3.9% on wages earned in the city. NYC's city tax rate is 3.6%. This all means to me that the taxation is pretty similar between the two.

Plus your sales tax is large.

8% in NYC vs. 6% in Philly. Non-prepared foods here are exempt tho, which is helpful. Clothing is exempt in both it seems.

There are very few large grocery stores. You'll get rooked on food by the corner bodega.

Same here unless you happen to have a car. I happen to live close to Trader Joe's, but I have to go at least 1 mile across the city to get to a real grocery store, especially one that isn't a total rip off! Like sure we have a bunch of Whole Foods and I have a pretty close South Street Square Market, but they're as bad as the corner bodegas.

Also, since there are so many little restaurants, you'll eat out alot more. It's unlikely that you'll have your own washer and dryer in your apartment so you'll end up sending your laundry out (no time to do it at home). Your only real savings is that you can easily do without a car.

Same. Very few apartments I've found have washer and drier in unit. I used to live in one that did my first year here and it was small, vented into the apartment, and cost a fortune to run. I've been paying for my laundry since then. The place with W/D in unit was a 2BR that's now going for $1600/mo. As for lots of little restaurants... Uhh... Isn't that a good thing? Philly really lacks cheap, good ethnic food outside of chinatown and a few little exceptions.

As for cabs, the cabs in Philly are as expensive as NYC. Their prices pretty much doubled over the past few years. NYC has the better subway system, so you don't need them as much. For utilities... I dunno how to compare them. Comcast is a total ripoff I can say with certainty. I pay ~$70/mo for basic TV and Internet.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Same here unless you happen to have a car. I happen to live close to Trader Joe's, but I have to go at least 1 mile across the city to get to a real grocery store, especially one that isn't a total rip off! Like sure we have a bunch of Whole Foods and I have a pretty close South Street Square Market, but they're as bad as the corner bodegas.

The Trader Joe's around here are comparable, if not cheaper, than the larger grocery stores. Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive.

 

[earthworm]

it depends on what kinda housing you get. if you're gonna get subsidized housing from your hospital, you may wind up spending less in nyc. you can probably get a place for $1200 or cheaper with hospital housing and you'll probably live close enough to work to walk there. if you get a place on your own though, i think the living expenses are gonna outweigh what you'll spend in philly. Even if everything's just a bit more expensive, it'll add up over the course of a few years.

 

[MaximusD]

What about chi-town...10 percent sales tax!! I noticed this when I was stuck at ORD for four hours after my CCOM interview. Holy **** - 10 cents on the dollar... Looks like I'll be doing all of my shopping online (hopefully they don't change teh laws...)

 

[Neuronix]

FWIW, the state of Illinois has the lowest state income tax of the states that have state income tax (3%). The city has no income tax. The sales tax is 9%. Based on all that you still make out better on tax burden. (PS: All the data I'm posting is courtesy Wikipedia)

The housing prices there are on par with Philadelphia based on personal observation. I typically see on lists that Chicago prices are a bit higher, but usually the Philadelphia rates are based on Philadelphia county. At least half of Philadelphia county is not the part of Philadelphia county YOU want to live in, so the listed rent information tends to be lower than what it should be.

Chicago is a way cooler city too. It's just freaking cold!

 

[spyyder]

going to NYC, stay in NJ
going to Philly, stay in NJ

MUCH cheaper, increased commute.
NJ transit goes to both cities and between them.

 

[turkleton]

I've lived in NYC and have some friends who live in Philly and Boston who I see fairly regularly and I have to say just from our pooled experiences, NYC wins 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Apartment: $1000 bucks a month if you're subsidized by your residency and that'll still mean a studio- unless you're willing to live with a roomate. I havn't bothered checking 1 BR because I know I wouldn't be able to afford it. Obviously cabs, subways, trains out of the city add up but I'd have to agree that owning a car with all the insurance, gas, parking fees is, deprecitation probably add up similarly. But its everything else. Groceries are outrageous- and Trader Joes isn't always close by- as are normal daily services that you need. Plus the nightlife, cafes, dining, the cultural stuff and everything in between all cost serious loot- sure you can live like a hermit, but why would you? All this said, I still hope to do a residency in NYC... I know I probably wont save money, but I don't think that people who choose to go there have that as the top priority... during residency anyway.

 

[Trisomy13]

You can manage in Philly without a car, for what it's worth. Especially during residency.