How much do you have to make to afford a car in NYC?

How much do you have to make to justify the cost of owning a car in NYC, specifically Manhattan? Most analysts, associates, and even some VPs across major shops in NYC don't have a car. Would it be worth it to get a car at all in NYC?

8 Comments
 

It's not really a cost question, it's more of a "why" question. As a junior IB employee, you don't have the time or latitude to leave Manhattan, ever. And having a car to just drive around the city is really, really stupid. 

 

I seriously can't see one. You'll get most places faster and with less aggravation on the subway than you would driving yourself. 

 
Most Helpful

Really isn’t worth it. It is completely a convenience thing, and even then debatable (although pretty nice right now with covid), since unless you are using it a lot, it is usually cheaper to just use a taxi/car service/uber. 

I own a car and keep it in a garage, so you pay ~$500/month for that + ~$100/month in insurance. If you are living and working in Manhattan you will get places faster on the subway and it is very easy to take an Uber or taxi out of the city (airport, etc). This year I’ve been using it a lot (going on weekend trips, golfing, etc), but under normal circumstances my use would be way down. So I would not recommend it. 

 

it comes down to how much you are willing to pay for the luxury of owning a car.  the cost of owning a car in Manhattan is much higher than other cities and your chances of getting dinged / scratched is also substantially higher.  and if you have a so-called 'luxury' vehicle (sometimes the bar is as low as a Tesla), be prepared for an extra surcharge for parking which generally doubles the cost.

 

Itaque quisquam deserunt assumenda illum voluptatum error. Et tempore blanditiis voluptas repellat ut placeat.

Quia veritatis occaecati enim. Optio sed dolores velit nisi. Recusandae corrupti et non veniam aperiam nihil qui.

Sed dolor rerum nobis sapiente. Voluptas quam dolore temporibus et aut sint labore. Velit facilis odio saepe consectetur sed optio fugiat.

Veritatis rerum numquam suscipit impedit libero qui. Est molestiae atque quos provident. Voluptas illum voluptatem dolor rerum reprehenderit deleniti qui quos. Officiis voluptatem pariatur neque eum velit.

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 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

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 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”