Can you live in _____ for $1100/month?

[kwilkinson]

Trying to get some advice here.

In August, I begin my externship for 3 months at some restaurant TBD. I'm interested in many restaurants, but most of them are either in my city (Chicago), San Fran, NYC, DC, Toronto, or London.
Student loans and savings combined give me a monthly budget of $1100, for everything, including rent, transportation, utilities, food, and what have you.
Now, my utilities and food costs likely be very low when I have a job, as I'll be spending anywhere from 60-80 hours at the restaurant a week and will get family meal there.
I know you can live in Chicago on that budget, in a decently safe area of the city, and be fine. My CTA costs are included in my schooling, otherwise I'd be paying $90 a month just in CTA.
But these other cities--- some of which are notoriously hard to "make it" in--- is it possible? To live in a decent, safe area of the city, and pay rent, food costs, utilities, transport, and probably internet but not TV, for only $1100/month? Or I guess in London, it'd be around 800 GBP/ month.

I don't want my externship location to be determined by my budget, however, $1100 is all there is going to be. I won't be getting paid at my job, and I won't be coming across any lotto winnings or inheritance between now and then. So is it workable?

Any tips/advice?

 

[GQgeek]

See my toronto people thread for info on toronto. I know you can definitely manage it there. I saw apartments on CL for $700 downtown. Subway pass is ~$110. That's all you really need.

I'd imagine that it would suck to live in London on that amount, but at least the exchange rate is more favorable these days. Don't forget that you can manage a lot more if you're willing to have roommates (which suck, but it's only for 3 months).

 

[robin]

I think you could easily do $1k a month in most places as long you have roommates.

 

[JoeWoah]

You could swing DC on $1,100 a month and still have a life.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

You could live very well in Montreal on $1100 an month (that's almost $1400 CAD right now). There'd be tons of money left over for booze. Cheaper and better than Toronto.

 

[why]

You could be someone's love toy in The Castro in San Fran for free.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by why

You could be someone's love toy in The Castro in San Fran for free.

Well, my thread has been up for almost 15 minutes and Matt hasn't offered yet. I don't get it.

Thx for the help guys.

 

[Nouveau Pauvre]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Well, my thread has been up for almost 15 minutes and Matt hasn't offered yet. I don't get it.

Thx for the help guys.

We would ball so hard if you come to DC. I'm talking "snort cocaine with a hundred dollar bill off my iphone" ballin'

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Magician

We would ball so hard if you come to DC. I'm talking "snort cocaine with a hundred dollar bill off my iphone" ballin'

As long as I can still make it to work the next day, you got it dawg. I'm kidding. I'm not a druggie with 0 morals like you.

 

[Nouveau Pauvre]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

As long as I can still make it to work the next day, you got it dawg. I'm kidding. I'm not a druggie with 0 morals like you.

Lrn2metaphor

kthnxbai.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Well, my thread has been up for almost 15 minutes and Matt hasn't offered yet. I don't get it.

Thx for the help guys.

He's not in to pudgy kids.

 

[Go Surface]

Originally Posted by Magician

We would ball so hard if you come to DC. I'm talking "snort cocaine with a hundred dollar bill off my iphone" ballin'

+ 100. I wouldn't hang out with you in real life though, so Natan would have to tell me everything second hand.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Magician

Lrn2metaphor

kthnxbai.

We could do crazy **** like..... stay up past midnight.

 

[evor1]

i think it will be impossible in SF. friend is living there and moving ...hes going to be paying aroudn 1200 a month just to rent a room in an apartment.

 

[Connemara]

Sounds like it would be tough in NYC, DC, LA or SF. Coastal cities are not cheap.

From what I've seen on Craigslist, a decent place in DC is going to run you around 700-800/mo., and that's usually with a bunch of roommates. NYC would be even more. If $1,100 was your firm budget I think doing something fun and keeping yourself sane would become difficult. Again, these cities (Chicago included, but not to the extent of the coastals) have generally higher drink/food costs.

In short, you could do it, but it might be uncomfortable at times.