Associates in NYC, where are you living??

Hey all, 

About to graduate from my MBA program in a couple months and starting a full-time IB Associate gig this summer. My bank will be located in midtown east, so wondering where Associates tend to live? 

My current wish list includes proximity to subway to get to midtown east, and a gym in the building would be ideal. Will be living solo in a 1BR, with flexible budget. I have heard that living downtown is the move, and that not many Associates and above like living in midtown east (guessing Murray Hill is geared more towards Analysts). Would greatly appreciate area/neighborhood recommendations, even building recommendations if you have 'em!

25 Comments
 

Personally, I am prioritizing UES down to Midtown East. Commute time (25min), value, and family-friendly(ish). This area has plenty of options to have all essentials (grocery, Equinox, schools) within 5-10 minutes walking distance too which is great.

When browsing places on StreetEasy, I leave one tab open with Google Maps and plug in the apartment address to see the commute time (set as depart on Monday at 9am). If everything checks out I plug the address into another tab to check how far the essentials above are.

I know associates who live all over Manhattan (and even Brooklyn) though, so it really depends on what your current/near-term priorities are and what commute time you are willing to commit to.

 
Most Helpful

Anything on the 6 line would work, but you’ll thank yourself if you’re also on an express (4) stop. Depending on where your office is, you can also shoot for Chelsea/Lower HY. Bonus points for GC/Penn Station accessibility, depending on whether you see yourself using the Metro North (golfing, recruiting in CT, older friends/family, JFK sans-traffic) or LIRR (Hamptons, etc.). Not much to do in FiDi on the weekends imo; many folks like UWS but I think the trek is not worth it. USQ/Flatiron/Nomad are underrated, but, as a result, you won’t have many friends living nearby. Know a few folks in LIC, but I wouldn’t recommend being off the island if you want to squeeze in some social life.

2020 Update: recounting my experiences in PE and sharing thoughts on recent deals at https://leverup.substack.com
 

Take a look at some apartments near Hudson Yards. One of them has an Equinox inside the apartment

 

I’m a big fan of gramercy down to soho (along the 6 line), but it won’t really be walkable (30-45 mins depending where you end up). Feels a lot less “corporate” (fewer large office buildings, more character to the area and buildings) and lots of great restaurants, bars, and events happening that feel more local than touristy. Midtown east is just very business focused so you won’t enjoy that neighborhood on the weekends, just depends how important it is to be walking distance. 

 

Have you considered Union Square or East Village? They are both a wonderful escape from the banking culture on the weekends and the dining choices are endless.

 

Weeeeeehawken! Specifically these three apartments: Estuary, Harbor 1500, and Hamilton Cove

You take the ferry and there's free shuttle that runs across manhattan

 

studio in the west village if you're a single straight man and want to play the dating game on easy mode 

We're not lawyers. We're investment bankers. We didn't go to Harvard. We Went to Wharton!
 

It just depends what you enjoy doing. If you like the area and are ok with taking the PATH into the city to hang out with friends (or at night after hanging out) then it is fine. 

Usually you are trading off how nice your place is with the convenience of access to stuff Manhattan has to offer. I enjoy the restaurants and things to do in Manhattan much more, so I chose to live there (and being able to walk a few blocks to meet friends is a plus). But people have different preferences. 

 

Living in Chinatown in a 4th floor walk up. Get the best dim sum everyday. Love it. 

 

Omnis nemo asperiores esse in ut sed. Praesentium recusandae dolore dolor ex sit. Ad unde ex quia atque dolor vitae optio debitis. Non nemo velit nihil atque nulla.

Corporis ea dicta dolore animi at. Culpa et deleniti labore dolorem rerum voluptas. Et omnis ut earum molestias provident nobis. Delectus ipsum sit nemo sed et quisquam cum natus.

Voluptas eum eligendi non qui a quia. Modi vero et ut est error. Laborum consectetur aut illum corporis nesciunt velit omnis totam. Illum deserunt dolor quo aut voluptate vel nemo eos. Qui commodi placeat quis ad nihil animi doloribus et.

Libero aut ratione sequi ducimus quae nam et. Reprehenderit unde voluptas aspernatur eaque eaque iure. Blanditiis iste et officiis voluptates dolores deserunt. Ut illum odio nihil accusantium consequatur sit. Ut mollitia ut non nam quas quis placeat hic.

 

Voluptatem voluptatum eos itaque nulla et praesentium. Et nulla nisi quia vero debitis. Expedita exercitationem voluptatum culpa dicta.

Maiores totam voluptatem eos molestias quod. Amet quisquam ut qui eos quas. Iusto ut omnis voluptas ad aut saepe ut.

Dolorum aliquam aut repellendus sint. Delectus ex libero ipsum vero modi iure cupiditate. Et pariatur voluptatem sint. Aperiam laudantium dolorem accusamus iusto cum dignissimos. Et mollitia dolores earum aut et cumque aut sit.

Ipsam ab officiis veniam voluptas architecto. Deserunt in placeat et eaque. Vel dignissimos alias qui eligendi omnis et non. Laborum minima minima expedita enim aut quo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”