Want to Afford to Live in NYC for Dirt Cheap?

Here's how.

Soho – Summer 2021

By now, I'm sure it's pretty clear that I have my sights firmly set on living and working in New York City upon graduation and during my 20s. I'm lucky enough to have a taste of city life this summer, as my internship will take me to the Flatiron District on weekdays. It's no secret that living in NYC has a price tag compared to many other states and cities around the country. With that being said, there are definitely ways to navigate your way through and still eat, drink, shop and experience the many wonderful things the city has to offer. As I've started to personally compile a list of hacks to "summer" in the city on a budget, I have to give credit where it's due and share that this post is also inspired by one of my favorite TikTokers, @katebartlett. Kate is a student at FIT and part of her personal brand is how she manages to live in NYC as a student. She created a viral TikTok at the end of 2021 sharing how she affords to live in New York City for "dirt cheap," and it's one of the best TikToks of the type that I have yet to come across. While I love consuming the aesthetic content of influencers, at times their lives are not much more than an unattainable ideal for the rest of the world. I can appreciate a creator who is not afraid to admit they live on a budget and that a glamorous city lifestyle is not always as practical or easy to achieve as it may seem. Read below for some of Kate's (and mine) tips combined!

1) Transportation–They always say a city is best seen on foot anyway! Easier said than done though, and if you're hopping boroughs, you're going to be better off using the Subway or a quicker form of transportation. You can buy a CitiBike membership for $185 a year which may sound like a lot, but if you're making use of it every day, that's just about fifty cents per ride. Like walking, biking through the city is a great way to explore and absorb more than you'd most likely see traveling by car. Depending on your work circumstances, biking may not always be most appealing idea, but it's a great option especially during the warmer months of spring and summer. It's almost essential to have some kind of MetroCard when you live in the city, too, which shakes out to be about $150 per month (ugh!). Even still, riding the Subway typically costs about $2.75 per ride, which really isn't bad at all. Now, let's talk about Ubers–are they really always that necessary? Sure, you're paying for convenience, but ride fees definitely add up in no time. Of course, calling an Uber is sometimes the safest option and you should never avoid the safest option just because it may cost you more. All I'm saying is, consider getting your steps in or taking some form of public transit before calling an Uber, if you can help it. One of Kate's rules that she shares in her TikTok, too, is that she never takes a sober Uber. Pretty clever if you ask me!

2) Coffee–Pret (A Manger) is a coffee shop with dozens of locations all over the city. Pret has different coffee "subscriptions" available, which may be something you could consider to save money in the long run instead of buying individual coffees each day. You can pay $9.99/30 days (brewed coffee and tea included) for Pret's Classic Pass, or $19.99/30 days (brewed coffee, tea, cold brew, and espresso drinks included) for a more premium plan. Either membership is unlimited, and subscribers are able to go once an hour if they wish (read that again!) If you go twice a day, this equals out to about 16 cents per coffee! Um, sign me up immediately. Moral of the story is that you'll definitely be seeing me at Pret this summer.

3) Gym–This really depends on your preference, but I've learned that it is much better to become a member at either a gym or a fitness class, as opposed to spreading yourself thin and trying a bunch of places at random times. Right now, I'm a member of OrangeTheory and go twice a week here in Syracuse with my friend. I supplement the other days of the week by either running outside or using my apartment gym which is of course an amenity included in monthly rent. In the city, I'll most likely maintain my membership and do the same supplementing with my apartment gym, as well as take advantage of the warm weather for walking and running outdoors. If you haven't found a fitness class you love, like OrangeTheory or pilates or something of the like, don't be fooled by expensive city gyms like Equinox. Blink Fitness is a great option ($28/month, approximately $1/day), as are other places like Planet Fitness and Retro Fitness. While they may not be the "nicest" for your aesthetic, as far as I'm concerned, as long as they supply a treadmill and weights, that's all you really need. Of course, if the gym scene isn't your thing, you can quite literally exercise for free outside every day, by walking or running around the city. I love to run around Central Park with my dad, as well as on the bridges and by the waterfronts. This is also an amazing way to see the city!

4) Groceries/Food–Trader Joe's is honestly your best bet for quality foods at affordable costs. My friends and I shop there often in college, and while it's easy to rack up dollars by adding all your favorite snacks to the cart, if you're mindful of your budget it's totally doable to buy groceries for the week under $100. Depending on your circumstances, you can set a budget each week for groceries, plan meals and make a list to stick to before you get inside of the store. Sometimes you just need those dark chocolate peanut butter cups even if they weren't on your initial list, which is completely fine. Just try your best to remain close to your target budget each week! My other piece of advice would be to cook the majority of your meals and treat yourself to takeout or dinner and drinks with friends on the weekends. Not only is this much healthier for you, but it's a great habit/rule to stick to in order to save money that can be directed towards other things during the week.

5) Self-Care–This is hard for me to write about, because I'm someone who always needs their nails and eyebrows done (thanks, mom). It's difficult for me to share advice on this, because I don't necessarily have the answers quite yet. I think sometimes, things like these are just added costs that you either have to bite the bullet and pay, or make the decision to spend more sparingly than usual. No, I don't need my nails done every two weeks, but sometimes it can be good to treat yourself. Just be aware of how much money is being devoted to these things, and evaluate how highly they should really be prioritized in the grand scheme of things.

Like I said, these are all just tips for you to pick and choose from. If some stick, amazing. If only a few do, that's great too. Living in any city is hard, and these things can of course be applied outside of the context of NYC as well! Now that I've got New York City on your mind though, I'll share some of my favorite pictures from my time there last summer. That skyline sure never gets old!