Being Working Poor: Harder in NYC or LA?

splitting hairs.

The LA ones don’t have to worry about snow removal.

I lived in NY in the early 2000s and was able to get by working as a waiter. But I was paying $800/month for a basement apartment in Astoria. I imagine it's more expensive today, but no car note or insurance.

I think it depends on per capital income and what types of activity is available for those with little discretionary spending power. In NYC there was always a tradition of inexpensive places to eat, like Eastern European food in a diner, tacos and hot dogs for a few dollars. There were also inexpensive cinemas that showed cult and classic film. But there seem to be less of these now. When I was pretty broke, I could always manage to find things to do and enjoy. It looks like it’s less fun being broke now.

Hard to get by without a car in LA .

If you are actually 'working' and still poor you don't want to be in L.A.

I don't know but I would guess it's easier in NYC. Like previous poster said, you don't need a car. Everything is very close together on the East Coast.

Also, it is harder to be a homeless person in the Northeast. We went to Florida a few weeks ago (okay, it wasn't the world's best idea), and there were a decent number of homeless looking types in Saint Augustine. The kids were shocked. I said "wouldn't you rather be homeless here than in bitter cold New York?" If I were homeless, I would certainly try to get to a warmer climate. Obviously it doesn't matter in the summer, but the winter in the Northeast is a whole different animal.

Residents of New York City’s Jacob Riis Houses in the Lower East Side, one of the largest public housing complexes in the Manhattan borough, have not had safe drinking water for more than a week after arsenic levels above federal standards were found in the building’s water supply.

You also have the greater prospect of being randomly killed in NYC.

Personally I think it's harder in LA. The rents are just as crazy yet you need upwards of another $1000 a month for a car. At least in NYC you can hop a turnstyle if you're broke (which I did in college when I had no money). Being homeless is a whole other deal. LA obviously would be easier due to the clement weather.

Why does everyone always say you need $1000+/mo for a car? When I moved to LA a few years ago I bought a shitty second hand car for $1500, got insurance for $70/mo and then gas was maybe another $100/mo. And it hasn’t changed that much since. Gas is more expensive at the moment sure and I got more expensive insurance but I’m still paying less than $300/mo. Nobody’s forcing anyone to lease a brand new car if money is tight.

I was looking at videos of apartments for rent on YouTube, Cash Jordan....interesting and unbelievable the cubbie holes that are rented out for 3K and up. There was one apartment...it was very average, even a bit run down....16K a month! It was on the sixth floor with no elevators. Another one had an opening between the living area to the kitchen a little more than a foot wide. You couldn't be an average overweight person living there, trying to squeeze through. These buildings are so chopped up, trying to make as many apartments as possible....with an average rent of about 5K. Another landlord raised the rent another 2K, within a year. It's really criminal and how they get away with it. Makes me appreciate what I've got, nothing special...a typical townhouse. My mortage is so much less than the rents.

Los Angeles home prices might be exorbitant but it’s hardly one of the world’s most expensive cities like Zurich, Tokyo, London or Shanghai.

That's nonsense r9. The crime rate is worse in Los Angeles than New York. Trolls are obsessed with NY crime.

I should have pointed out that these apartments were in NYC....🙄

If you are talking young and broke with strong prospects that this is temporary not permanent, then LA is much harder. NYC is more compact, you can find a cheap roommate situation, not worry about a car, and take advantage of all sorts of free and inexpensive things (e.g. museums often have a free or pay-what-you-will night)

OTOH, if this is permanent--you are a shop bottom or social worker and have no trust fund or wealthy parents who will leave you money, then NYC is much harder. Just having outdoor space you can use pretty much year round is a plus, regardless of where you live, plus there's not the endless grind of commuting from the outer boroughs or blue collar suburbs.

Not everyone can live in NYC or LA. I know it's glamorous and where everyone goes to "make it". But to any young folks with stars in their eyes who are reading this, don't go until you can afford it. Living in a shitty basement apartment in a rat infested building is no way to live. Try a more affordable city first. Make your mark there. Then when the time comes and you can earn a decent living, move to NYC or LA.

"When I moved to LA a few years ago I bought a shitty second hand car for $1500"

You're lucky your shitty car didn't keep breaking down, spiraling you into debt because of repairs like mine did when I lived in LA for a few years.

R18 it was a great car. Unfortunately got totaled while I was asleep and my next (more expensive) car became a repairs nightmare, I had it crushed for scrap as soon as I realized how tricky it could be. Tough to predict I suppose.