• pulaskiwasright@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Tech workers often don’t make enough money for it to make sense to live in the city long term unless it’s really important to them. If they have kids, this goes double. A lot of people commute from upstate and that is a hellish commute, even by train.

    • Aggy@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Upstate commutes can definitely be rough. But it isn’t the only ‘affordable’ places. Getting towards the end of subway lines in Brooklyn and Queens can be relatively affordable.

      I live in a 3 bedroom in Queens with a 3k rent and only 5 minute walk to the M. I don’t commute but my partner does and it isn’t too bad. There were other 3 bedrooms off the L we looked at this summer that would have been a much faster commute and some where down at like 2800.

      • Copernican@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It is clear this general news sub has no frame of reference for NYC. A quick glassdoor check says a software engineer makes 100-160k base, with 25-50k bonus. And that is not including Sr Engineer or Architect titles. A one bedroom or two or 3 bedroom with a dual income in tech makes it affordable to live in the city.

        • rambaroo@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yeah if you’re spending 50% of your disposable income on rent, it’s “affordable”

          Meanwhile I make similar money with WFH but I own a house with a mortgage less than half of that ridiculous rent rate.

          • Copernican@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Good for you in minimizing cost and maximizing income. The point is the income is sufficient for NYC living, and a lot of people live very satisfactory lives in NYC with that salary. And part of the reason why you stay in NYC is because you enjoy what the cities offers, which can mean you like spending money on life style and going out.

            I have several friends that both rent in NYC and own homes in the Hudson Valley/Upstate. I have friends that max out their 401ks, pay rent, and still go out fairly often. I don’t understand this false claim that tech workers can’t afford the city, hate their lives here, and prefer to live out in the suburbs. That makes no sense. Plenty of tech workers make enough, and love the city, and continue to live here. The challenge is getting people sacrifice leaving their comfortable apartments and neighborhoods in brooklyn and queens to come the shit hole that is mid-town/times square.

          • Aggy@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            I’m wouldn’t even spending a 1/3 of my income on that 3k rent. A programmer can very much afford to live in NYC quite comfortably while still saving for the future.