Post: #1

Hey all, I've decided to make the move to Boston. Used the search function but nothing came up about living expenses.

I'm 22 years old, recently graduated undergrad. I'm going to be working with a budget of about 40K a year before taxes (somebody please tell me what this translates to after tax).

I don't plan on living anywhere fancy, obviously but I want to be around people my age and have a place that is relatively close to the nightlife for people in my age cohort.

1. Where should I live?
2. How much will it cost me for rent?
3. Is 40K too little for Boston?
4. Good nightlife spots?

I have never lived in a big city. Grew up in a town of about 70,000 people in the Midwest. Please give me advice on living in cities as well.

Post: #2

Boston is incedibly expensive, you'll have to immerse yourself in the significant and cheaper college and post college culture. Plan on multiple roommates and in terms of cost and reasonable cost I've living I'd look at Medford, maybe Somerville. Directly in the city is obviously better but u probably won't be able to swing it financially. You can do it on 40k a year but it won't be pretty, you'll want to find like minded kids who are doing the same. Your hot spots are going to be determine largely by drink specials which is finer given that those seeking out the same will be in your boat as well.

Post: #3

I don't hear too many good things about Boston, have a couple friends from there. I've never personally been.

Post: #4

Welcome to Boston

Post: #5

If 40K is your salary, then find a roommate. Rents even in the suburbs 10 miles out are over $1300 for 600 sq ft apts, so finding a roommate makes everything easier. I'd look more at the T network and where you can rent that is close to a T stop. If you can find a roommate that you can stand, renting near a green line stop is a great move. Lots of colleges that provide a steady stream of new women each fall, and in the summer, so many people are gone that if you do have a car, parking becomes easier to come by. I had friends who rented cheaply in Dorchester but their car insurance was through the roof and with the number of smash and grabs on their cars, I understand why.

I did the reverse move and went from Boston to large Midwest metro city. I enjoy my time here more than Boston.

Post: #6

I'm looking at lofts, studios, and singles in Mission Hill that are $850 w/water, electricity, and heating. I imagine with roommates, I could get this cut down to like ~600/month.

Would you guys recommend I start out with roommates just to meet new people? I'm kind of wary of possible horror stories that may arise from living with total wackos off of Craigslist.

Do I need a car? From what I've been reading, public transit is good to get around and it's like $60/month for a transit card.

Post: #7

If you are working in the city and living in mission hill, you don't need a car. Check what color line that apt is near on the T. If it's an orange line stop, you're rent is low because of that area of mission hill. If it's near a green, you're in better shape.

Post: #8

(12-06-2011 09:04 PM)MrM27 Wrote:  If you are working in the city and living in mission hill, you don't need a car. Check what color line that apt is near on the T. If it's an orange line stop, you're rent is low because of that area of mission hill. If it's near a green, you're in better shape.

Yeah, my job is right off of the green line. Guess I was lucky. All these 850/month apartments are near there green line.

How does the party scene in Boston work? Are there clusters of bars around universities or is it a dive bar scene?

Post: #9

(12-06-2011 12:06 AM)Batata Wrote:  I have never lived in a big city. Grew up in a town of about 70,000 people in the Midwest. Please give me advice on living in cities as well.

Find a temporary living situation. When you have a realistic grip on your budget, make more permanent decisions on your living situation. 40K in Boston is gonna be real tough. When you realize how little net you will have to spend and live on, you'll be able to make more realistic decisions.

Post: #10

(12-06-2011 11:15 PM)scorpio Wrote:  

(12-06-2011 12:06 AM)Batata Wrote:  I have never lived in a big city. Grew up in a town of about 70,000 people in the Midwest. Please give me advice on living in cities as well.

Find a temporary living situation. When you have a realistic grip on your budget, make more permanent decisions on your living situation. 40K in Boston is gonna be real tough. When you realize how little net you will have to spend and live on, you'll be able to make more realistic decisions.

I live on less than 40K in Boston, and I do just fine.

Cut down on your costs and find an excellent living situation. Check Craigslist in Somerville/Cambridge/Medford for the best deals.

I currently pay 570/month, and this is what I get:

- Fully furnished
- All utilities (incl internet)
- Off-street parking
- Washer and Dryer inside of my apartment
- A/C included
- 2 other roommates that I get along great with. 1 of the roommates is gone for over 6 months a year, so I sublet the room when he's gone and make $$$.


Room is small... but it doesn't stop me from smashing chicks in here. And most of the time, I'm outside of my room. Having a nice apartment isn't something you need.

http://www.thegmanifesto.com/2010/03/pla...-crib.html

Post: #11

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking, Samseau? Thanks for the great advice, and after a little research, I noticed what you're saying is accurate.

Would your recommend Mission Hill or Jamaica Plain for a kid fresh out of college?

Post: #12

(12-08-2011 12:29 PM)Batata Wrote:  How old are you, if you don't mind me asking, Samseau? Thanks for the great advice, and after a little research, I noticed what you're saying is accurate.

Would your recommend Mission Hill or Jamaica Plain for a kid fresh out of college?

I don't recommend either of those places if you want to learn game. They are way the fuck out there; I don't know of any good night-life spots there.

Post-grads hang out in the Cambridge or South Boston area. I like Cambridge.

Post: #13

Batata, welcome to Boston. You'll like it here.

40K is tight but definitely doable. Samseau's got great advice on the housing situation, so lets discuss nightlife:

- Cambridge: Central Square and Harvard Square. Both places have clusters of bars/lounges. Harvard's a bit more tourist/college scene. You get a decent range of spots from divey Bars (Charlies Kitchen)/divey dance club (Phoenix Landing) to solid spots like the Middle East (depending on the night), Grafton Street.
- Boston: Back Bay/Financial District: Definitely yuppy/upscale. You'll be paying $10+ for your mixed drinks. I suggest pregaming hard and buying a drink or two at the spot. You have places like Clink and Gypsy Bar, which tend to draw an upscale crowd to spots for beers and college game like Beacon Hill Tavern. Generally it'll be expensive out here.
-Boston: Allston: College central between BU and BC. Large clusters of Bars/Clubs on Harvard Ave. Best bang for the buck (pun intended). Since your out of school, you'll like it here. You can pull a BU chick and not blow more than $40.Small tip: Get to place like Common Ground or Wonderbar earlier on a Friday/Saturday night and pay less for a drink. Back in the day I used to pregame at the venue. You do get a stupid frat boy element here, but just be smart about not messing around.
- Boston:Fanueil Hall area: Touristy but can be solid. Spots like Ned Divines/Parris, Purple Shamrock can work depending on the night.

Boston has lots of stuff happening year round, a great pub culture, and lots of twenty somethings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHj-Og_YZDo

Post: #14

(12-08-2011 11:06 PM)BostonBMW Wrote:  Boston has lots of stuff happening year round, a great pub culture, and lots of twenty somethings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHj-Og_YZDo

Aren't the drinking laws tyrannical? I friend of mine went to Harvard and always bitched about the Commonwealth's booze laws, called them a remnant of New England's Puritan heritage.

Post: #15

(12-08-2011 11:30 PM)P Dog Wrote:  

(12-08-2011 11:06 PM)BostonBMW Wrote:  Boston has lots of stuff happening year round, a great pub culture, and lots of twenty somethings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHj-Og_YZDo

Aren't the drinking laws tyrannical? I friend of mine went to Harvard and always bitched about the Commonwealth's booze laws, called them a remnant of New England's Puritan heritage.

Yea, the Blue laws suck. No alcohol can be sold on Sunday, no happy hours allowed. On the other, there are a ton college students and a pretty well established Pub culture. In the winter months, bars are the best place to meet people.

Post: #16

Boston's bars also close at 2 am, and the metro closes at 12 am. Most guys find that depressing as well.

Post: #17

(12-08-2011 11:06 PM)BostonBMW Wrote:  Batata, welcome to Boston. You'll like it here.

40K is tight but definitely doable. Samseau's got great advice on the housing situation, so lets discuss nightlife:

- Cambridge: Central Square and Harvard Square. Both places have clusters of bars/lounges. Harvard's a bit more tourist/college scene. You get a decent range of spots from divey Bars (Charlies Kitchen)/divey dance club (Phoenix Landing) to solid spots like the Middle East (depending on the night), Grafton Street.
- Boston: Back Bay/Financial District: Definitely yuppy/upscale. You'll be paying $10+ for your mixed drinks. I suggest pregaming hard and buying a drink or two at the spot. You have places like Clink and Gypsy Bar, which tend to draw an upscale crowd to spots for beers and college game like Beacon Hill Tavern. Generally it'll be expensive out here.
-Boston: Allston: College central between BU and BC. Large clusters of Bars/Clubs on Harvard Ave. Best bang for the buck (pun intended). Since your out of school, you'll like it here. You can pull a BU chick and not blow more than $40.Small tip: Get to place like Common Ground or Wonderbar earlier on a Friday/Saturday night and pay less for a drink. Back in the day I used to pregame at the venue. You do get a stupid frat boy element here, but just be smart about not messing around.
- Boston:Fanueil Hall area: Touristy but can be solid. Spots like Ned Divines/Parris, Purple Shamrock can work depending on the night.

Boston has lots of stuff happening year round, a great pub culture, and lots of twenty somethings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHj-Og_YZDo

Excellent write-up. Thanks a lot. I went to Wonderbar by the way! The only Boston bar I hit up, ever. Met some really hot girls on the subway, and a couple at the bar. Cute girl I approached on the street led me to Wonderbar.

That said, Allston looks like a place I want to be. I'm gonna start looking for spots there.

Looking forward to Boston. Thanks for all the advice guys.

Post: #18

Avoid Roxbury, Jamaica plain, Mattapan, and some parts of Dorchester. Trust me the cheap rent isn't worth the crime. BostonBMW is accurate with his assessment. Somerville isn't bad, Malden, Medford, Allston, Everett, and there's a few other places to live that are affordable.

Post: #19

I'll be moving to Boston in the near future. Could pay more, but ideally I'd like to spend no more than $1800/month for an apt in a quiet setting. Would be great to have private outdoor space where I could have a grill. I'll be working within walking distance of South Station so I could either take the T or commuter rail in.

I don't have a car, but could buy one if needed. Was thinking about doing that anyways so I could explore the other towns of Mass and New England in general.

I was looking at Forest Hills/Jamacia Plains/Dorchester, but after reading the post above it doesn't sound too safe?

Any recommendations?

Post: #20

Most places along the Red Line will command a premium FYI. It's been awhile since I looked but that price seems reasonable for FH/JP/Dot. I would add Quincy, Brookline, Milton, the North Shore and really anywhere outside the I93 ring since you intend on transiting in. Do note that outside the T lines you will need a car to get around unless you like taxing or staying in.

I could give more color but you will need to be more specific on your wants. Also note that the areas you mentioned aren't all that bad. The key is to find the pockets of good areas inside the bad zones. 1 block will be vastly different from the next block over.

And the Green line is a shit show when it gets busy.

Post: #21

(09-06-2015 02:35 PM)Onto Wrote:  I'll be moving to Boston in the near future. Could pay more, but ideally I'd like to spend no more than $1800/month for an apt in a quiet setting. Would be great to have private outdoor space where I could have a grill. I'll be working within walking distance of South Station so I could either take the T or commuter rail in.

I don't have a car, but could buy one if needed. Was thinking about doing that anyways so I could explore the other towns of Mass and New England in general.

I was looking at Forest Hills/Jamacia Plains/Dorchester, but after reading the post above it doesn't sound too safe?

Any recommendations?

Boston has become incredibly expensive.

Definitely look at the outskirts of Boston proper, $1800 is a very low budget for the city and for 'quiet setting with outdoor space' you will need to double or triple your budget unfortunately.

I'm very familiar with the Boston real estate market so feel free to PM me for real help.