Living Alone in NYC after college: your experience? (subletting, apartments)

[Syque]

Hi everyone. So I'm graduating college this May and I feel like I've already hit nyc apartment nirvana. I'm currently sharing a subletted 1BR place with a roommate. I love it; he stays in the living room while I stay in the bedroom. The place is in downtown brooklyn, and I have a great view of manhattan from my bedroom. There's even a sky light in the living room. The only real downside is there's no laundry in the building or laundromats nearby, so I take my clothes to the dry cleaners, which is a bit expensive. We only pay $800 each per month with all utilities though which is half of what I'd be paying if I were in the dorms and we're getting twice as much space and privacy.

I already have a job lined up for after college, $60k. My roommate is leaving the city and the person I'm subletting from said she'd be willing to reduce the rent to $1400 if it's only me living here, basically straddling the 1/3rd rule of thumb for rent. Part of me thinks it would be smart to find another roommate to keep the rent low, but the other part of me keeps pulling out a tape measure when my roommate is out trying to figure out how I can arrange a couch and tv in the living room

I wanted to see if I could get some second opinions from people who've lived in the city alone when it stretched the budget. did you feel like the added privacy and personal space was worth the extra cost? $800 a month is a lot of money I could be saving for something else, like actually buying a place or paying student loans. But at the same time finding a roommate would be a pain and there's no guarantee I'll be compatible with whoever I find. I've always wanted to live alone, and I'll never find a place this great in a location this great for any less.

[Borninnycliveinnyc]

You are fine, no need for a roommate. Just spend wisely.

[crescent22]

Living alone is what people want- it's a luxury and you can afford it and you like the place. Do it.

A roommate can help with the social life if you are in a new city but you likely have a social network already from school.

[spiritkey]

I think maybe you can find a 2 bed and share with a roommate. Rental for one bed is around 1200~1400, and two bed is $1600~1800. If you can find a 2 bed within this price range, you will have both privacy and save some money

[brooklyn1234]

I lived in a one bed for $1300 a month making $45k a year fresh out of college. It was tight but I made it work. I'm sure you can with that.

[livingsinglenyc]

Don't live alone till you know you can afford it for the rest of your life. Living alone is Great and you will never want to return to living with roommates again.

[city living]

Depends what you want to do.

If living alone is a priority, then stretch your budget and do it. Are you open to looking into other areas/apartments or do you prefer to stay put? Are you sure you wouldn't be able to find a cheaper studio in the area?

If you'd rather save money up for a place down the line and/or would rather have more fun money to spend, then I would either get another roommate or look for a 2-bedroom that would have comparable costs.

[Chava61]

Living alone is a convenient as you do what you like within your home without the restrictions of other people.

[Kefir King]

Remember too that your SECOND roommate might not prove so amicable an arrangement as the first.

[MikeNigh]

Save and then buy a 1 BR. Then you'll be on your way to living alone cheap while having a good investment.