Irina Sidorkina
A former journalist, the future writer, travels, talks about life in New York in his Instagram-profile: @sidorkina_i.
According to statisticsCost of Living City RankingNew York is part of the 15 most expensive cities in the world. I often hear about how cool to live in the United States, because there are high salaries.
To begin, we define the concepts:
- low-income in the United States - less than 3000 dollars a month (about 200 000 rubles).
- Sredniy income - about 5000 dollars (~ 340 thousand rubles).
- high income - from 10 000 dollars (~ 670 thousand rubles).
Prices are average, the amount in rubles rounded.
earnings
Doctors, dentists, lawyers - in the top highly paid professions in the United States.
As well as around the world, low wages account for staff, where saving tips. Students and immigrants generally fall into this category.
Remain out of work in the city is difficult, arranged everything, even those who are not fluent in English. I asked around friends and found out that the administrator of the medical center earns 15 dollars (1 000) per hour, the driver Uber - an average of 2 000 dollars (136 000 rubles) per week, a store cashier - $ 2 500 (170 000) a month (if you work seven days a week), and the driver of heavy vehicles - 5000 dollars (340 000 rubles) in month. Nevertheless, the work trucker heavy, given the irregular schedule of danger on the roads and the different laws in each state.
In general, the salary is announced or hourly rate, or the amount paid for the year. Please note that in New York it will be deducted from the 30% tax.
Housing
Rent a studio apartment in Manhattan starts from US $ 3000 (204 000 rubles) per month.
A lot of Russian go to live in Brooklyn, Brighton Beach, where you can find accommodation from $ 1 000 (68 000).
We rented a room in the central part of Brooklyn - 1 500 (102 000) per month, plus bills electricityThat in the winter season reached 200 dollars (13 600 rubles). A deposit in the amount of 1 500 (102 000) and bought at $ 1 200 Furniture (81 600 rubles). In New York, find a furnished apartment - a rarity.
Why is it so expensive for the room? We have a new house, open roof with BBQ, free parking, a gym, a dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioning, near metro and all the comforts of life.
Buying a home simplified low interest rate, but prices bite. Spread large: from 400 000 dollars (27 million rubles) for a studio in Brooklyn to $ 1.5 million (102 million rubles) for a house on Rockaway Beach in Queens, because it's a prestigious area. When the great opportunities can purchase a penthouse in Manhattan for $ 50 million (about 3.5 billion rubles).
Transport
I take the subway. Unlimited card costs $ 121 (8 000) per month.
Given the paid parking, insurance, inspections, gasoline and cork, car maintenance - this is not a cheap pleasure.
Last cab ride cost $ 35 (2,400 rubles) for 30 minutes.
While the snow fell, you can use the city bicycle, an annual subscription is $ 120 (8,000 rubles).
Communication and media services
We use a family tariff, that is, the more the family is connected, the lower the cost. Monthly fee for cellular communications with unlimited internet - $ 40 (2,700 rubles), a bonus there is a free Netflix. Full fare without discounts - $ 70 (4,700 rubles).
Internet - $ 55 (3,750 rubles) per month.
Spotify app - $ 6 (400 rubles) for a family rate.
Medicine
There are different types of insurance with different conditions. Basic insurance - $ 380 (25,800 rubles), dental - $ 40 (2,700 rubles) for two, the rest covered by the employer.
Admission charge by the doctor's flat - $ 30 (2,000 rubles).
Put the seal - $ 50 (3,400 rubles).
Non-prescription medicines you no one will sell. Prices are 3-4 times higher than in Russia, even with insurance.
Food
In a week I had to eat leaves from 50 to 100 dollars (3 400-6 800 rubles). I go for products in a normal shop at home.
Here are the approximate cost of the products:
- tea - $ 4 (300 rubles);
- Pasta - $ 2-3 per 400 g (120-200 rubles);
- Quinoa - $ 10 per 400 g (700 rubles);
- Strawberry - $ 4 per 500 g (280 rubles);
- vegetarian sausages - $ 5 per 350 g (350 rubles);
- tomatoes - 1.5 dollars per 500 g ($ 100);
- avocado - $ 2 per 1 piece (140 rubles);
- green beam - 1.5 dollars ($ 100);
- chocolate bar - 1.5 dollars ($ 100);
- ground coffee - $ 8 per 350 g (560 rubles);
- milk - from $ 2 per 1 liter (140 rubles);
- yogurt - $ 8 per 1.5 liters (560 rubles);
- cookies - from $ 2 per 200 g (140 rubles);
- condensed milk - $ 4 per 400 g (280 rubles);
- almond milk - $ 4 per 1 l (280 rubles);
- blueberry - $ 4 per 1 kg (280 rubles);
- Flour - $ 2 per 1 kg (140 rubles).
Sometimes I visit a Korean store H-mart, where you can find cheese curds $ 3 (200 rubles) per share, and various interesting products like smoked tofu, candy from the match - $ 7 (480 rubles) for a pack of 100 grams - or set for Asian soup for $ 10 (680 rubles).
Fruits and vegetables in any shop are cheap, usually all ripe and fresh.
However, once I have sold half a kilo of cherries for $ 13 (880 rubles), instead of three. To go back and argue it was laziness, so check the check, do not expect that everything is fair in the United States.
Birthday, I was faced with the problem of purchase cake: Cheaper $ 100 (6,800 rubles) a quality big cake in the pastry is not found.
Buckwheat can be ordered via iHerb or to find in supermarkets in Brighton Beach - 4-7 dollars (280-480 rubles). Everything is there, from the kvass to ravioli. However, my friend, who has worked in such a place, it is strongly recommended not to buy the products in the Russian area.
I do not suffer from a lack of domestic products. In New York, too much choice.
Lunch in a simple Asian cafe will cost you $ 10 (680 rubles) for a large portion.
Dinner for two at a nice restaurant - about $ 300 (20,400 rubles).
"McDonald's" in New York - tourists and the homeless shelter, because it is cheap and around every corner. "Starbucks" - the level above. coffee glass costs $ 3-7 (200-470 rubles).
Entertainment
The bulk of the population of the "Big Apple" a lot of work. Weekend - at home with family and friends, a trip out of town, going to bars, exhibitions or sporting events.
Movie ticket - $ 16 (1 000).
Entrance to the city's museums, zoos, botanical gardens is free, since I officially New Yorker.
For the rest of the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to become a paid May 1, 2018 - $ 25 (1,750 rubles). Previously operated Pay What You Wish (PWYW) system that is "pay what you want".
A ticket to the zoo - from $ 10 (700 rubles). The Brooklyn Botanic Garden - $ 15 (1 000). Sometimes it is free entry - on Fridays in the morning.
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), you can visit for free every Friday from 16:00 to 20:00. Log on other days costs 25 dollars.
Rent a yacht for six people - $ 500 in two hours (35 300 rubles). A ride in a helicopter costs $ 350 for 30 minutes (24 500 rubles).
free beaches.
Personal care
Wash your hair, straighten the hair and put to use professional tools necessary to a good salon of $ 100 (6,800 rubles). Recently I discovered a network of Japanese hairdressing salons, where a haircut is $ 20 (1,360 rubles), but the difference is obvious. Walk on dry hair with scissors can be at home on their own.
cost of manicure It starts at $ 50 (3,500 rubles), if you wish, you can find a Russian master, who will do it for $ 25 (1,750 rubles).
hour massage - 150-200 dollars (10 300-14 000).
shopping
Shopping - a tedious task. In the city there is the shopping center, which includes everything. We use online stores, such as Amazon, paying an additional service Prime, which costs 15 dollars (1 000) per month and includes fast delivery, free movies, audio books and music.
Often you can get on sale, really good discounts, up to 80%. Gradually, I came to the conclusion that the purchase of cosmetics and things are cheaper than in Moscow.
Total per month for a family of two people spending at least 3 turns $ 500 (238,000 rubles), if you do not include This modest budget is a major purchase, pay the mortgage, rent a luxury apartment, not cheap entertainment and travel outside USA. Here, as in any country, the costs depend on your needs and abilities.
see also
- What you need to know about life in New York →
- 20 features of life in the US, which can be confusing →
- 10 most expensive cities in the US to stay →
- Top 10 cheapest accommodation US cities →