Associate rent/budgets

For those starting off as new associates in NYC this year - I was curious what you plan to set aside for rent / how you plan to budget?

I think most of us are too old with live with roommates, so I was mostly wondering whether you plan to live in a studio or 1 bedroom? Uptown/Midtown/Downtown?

It appears that decent studios in doorman buildings go for anywhere from $2000-2800 (excluding brokers fees) and 1 bedrooms go out at $2500-3500. This is obviously a pretty big chunk of a $100K base salary.

Any thoughts or experiences would be welcome.

8 Comments
 

I am not looking to live outside of Manhattan. It is far too inconvenient on the longer nights in this job, especially as a first year associate. If I worked a normal 9-5 or 9-7, I'd consider it.

Realistically, there really aren't too many walk-ups on 11th Avenue - only a handful of high rises which are fairly pricey. I guess I could consider 1st Avenue... but it really does not appeal too much. Additionally, the convenience of having a doorman building is immense in this job. I don't foresee doing my own laundry as a first year associate, for example...

I guess I'm just looking for validation that others plan to be as wasteful as I am being. This is a first for me, but I don't see too many other viable options.

 

"Must be a bitch buying groceries and shit. Good exercise, though, I suppose?"

how many groceries do you plan on buying?

paying the extra money to live closer to the office is 100% worth it..a ten minute commute each way vs an hour commute each way is a massive difference in what limited free time you'll have

I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
 

I live on 11th ave in midtown. There is no decent studio you will get for less than 2600 at least in clinton/midtown west, if you want a doorman. A good number of associates/vps/svps live in my building and studios start at 2900 but with a month or two free per year

I suggest you either drop the doorman and go for walk up builduings or look at murrayhill or FiDi area.

Goodluck

 

In in sed delectus velit maiores. Perferendis odit facilis quidem et omnis ea vel. Nobis consequuntur est est voluptatem nulla. Praesentium dolores et ad est magnam quasi. Tenetur in alias inventore aut alias nam voluptas. Consectetur quae dolorum ipsam vel illo dolor atque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”