$$$$ (apartments, car insurance, daycare)

[maestro]

Question for all you Long Islanders:

What type of salary would one need to live on Long Island, particularly Suffolk Co? I am considering moving back to my native NY with my wife and little baby, but I am VERY concerned that I wouldn't be able to live a comfortable life. We're not very materialistic -- we have modest cars, we don't go shopping every weekend, etc. -- so I'm just talking paying for the necessities. Food, clothing, and of course some toys for the little one. Making matters trickier is that we are a single-income family, as my wife is staying home for the time being to raise our daughter.

I realize that it depends on what town I would choose to live in, but what type of ballpark figure would you throw out there? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

[clamboy]

You probably need what a Suffolk County cop makes to get by.....In fact thats probably a good rule of thumb for any market. 120-30-ish with overtime.

Well at least the cops can afford to live here.

Prepare to struggle on less.

C

[GypsySoul22]

It's changed so much here, even in 10 years. My husband and I made about $40,000-$50,000 together and we were able to buy a big old house in an okay area of Suffolk County. But then we had our one child, he lost his job, and we had to sell it. We moved abroad and came back in 2000. What a shock how things have gone skyhigh.

Reality is both parents HAVE to work but you have daycare/babysitting costs to consider.(unless you have a generous granny or aunt to watch those kids for free). I know our 'modest lifestyle' (we sound like your family) went down the toilet once I became a stay at home mother.

Car insurance is very expensive here. You just have to look at the Long Island board for answers to your questions.(read each post with a grain of salt. You get people pulling in big, big money who love it here and you also get people who are quite 'modest' who are bitter about the prices of things).

Even if my husband AND I worked full time, we could not afford a home here. (that's why we want to move). Apartments are scarce and if you CAN find one, they cost A LOT.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. It's not a bad place here, just somewhere you have to be prepared to work very hard for 'basics.' I think there are probably plenty of easier places to move, as long as you can find a job.