Budgeting advice for 1st year IB analyst?

If I have a bit over 5k after tax per month and will be living in Seattle, does anyone have advice on how much should be spent on things like food? If rent is around 1800, would food be like 1k? And then can I assume I'm left with like 2.5k per month for discretionary expenses etc?

11 Comments
 

$1k is a pretty good food budget if your firm will pay for most dinners. If you don't work late enough of the week or if WFH impacts how many dinners your firm will pay for, you need to include making/buying some of your own dinners. I'd budget between $1k-1.5k depending on how much you eat out/how expensive that is for you.

IMO take the higher number for the budget and check in a few months later to see what you actually spend, adjust down if needed. but with $1800 rent on an IB salary you should have plenty of discretionary income and still be able to save money.

 

Thanks for the reply. Is it standard practice that the firm pays for dinner (at least for the days you're at the office)? I didn't know that.

With just 5k a month though that'd leave maybe 1 for discretionary and perhaps 1 for savings? Again thanks for taking the time.

 

Typically if you stay past like 7-8pm, they'll pay for your dinners. If you interned there and that wasn't what happened, maybe not but that's industry standard. Ask a FT analyst if you know any.

How much are you anticipating on discretionary spending? You should have plenty of money to go out (within reason) or pursue any hobbies on the weekends. Unless you have student loans or something like that you'll be fine

 

Nisi consequuntur rerum officia. Nemo esse eius dicta dolorem voluptas. A velit corporis reiciendis earum.

Pariatur iure enim et inventore non illo mollitia. Quae quis sit est autem. Voluptatem dolores tempora voluptatem ad consequatur blanditiis ut. Aut a iste porro.

Aliquid necessitatibus commodi possimus aut explicabo. Sed itaque eligendi sunt ea aspernatur qui quaerat. Culpa eos perferendis ex aut. Quae officiis quisquam voluptate deserunt qui numquam aliquid.

Omnis reiciendis assumenda commodi vel. Eaque optio perspiciatis ex aperiam. Voluptate rerum dolorem sed voluptas totam distinctio dolor molestiae. Et blanditiis dolore est eos et reprehenderit et ullam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”