Anyone here make over $100k+ a year and still take the train to work everyday (because you live outside Manhattan)?
Just wondering, because Manhattan is so expensive to rent. Anyone here have a salary of over $100k+ but does not live physically in Manhattan, but live in the other boroughs of NYC or New Jersey? Do you have a high salary but still take the train to work everyday like the other peasants?
Yes. I live in LIC and take the train everyday it’s running. Taking a car would add 10-20 mins over the train assuming no traffic.
Lol what? MetroNorth and NJ Transit are packed full of banking/finance MDs and Ds. It can take hours to get into the city with a car, even just from the other boroughs, you'd be in standstill traffic for most of the route. If you're talking analyst/associate, plenty live in LIC, Jersey City/Hoboken, or Brooklyn and of course they take the train. The car route is nightmarish.
Go take the ~8am rush hour train from Greenwich and other parts of Westchester, or from Summit/Far Hills in NJ... the trains are like 90% white-collar workers in their late 30s-50s and I'd guess the average salary of the whole car is $500k.
In other cities public transit is definitely shunned by the wealthy, but in NYC there is no other realistic way to travel. unless you don't mind spending 3 hours in traffic, or 45 minutes to go across town in rush hour, even the very wealthy take the train.
Great commentary, and just wanted to add an anecdotal data point regarding the "other cities shun public transport". Am Chicago-based and can state that some of the wealthiest people I know (8-9 figure NW) still take the bus and or train daily. Know the head partner of a top 3 law firm in the US prefers taking the bus over driving stating that it saves him significant time and headaches.
In NYC it’s extremely normal for everyone to take the train. I have partners with 9 figure net worths who take the subway or bus, often paired with a commuter line (MNR/LIRR) on a daily basis
No once I hit $100k+ I got a private driver and remodeled sprinter van
My now-retired uncle just got a Sprinter. He's living the life. Paid north of six figures to get the thing, and another six to get it custom-fitted by some company out in CA. It's a hefty investment, but he just travels the country and does fuck-all, living the absolute dream. It's on my bucket list one day
Work went fully remote for me since covid and I have been doing the same. It is a hard lifestyle to beat.
One day? Wait until your old? You can do this now. Take a sabbatical and enjoy life. Life is a series of experiences. The earlier in life you have them, the longer in life you can cherish them.
Also, your uncle got ripped off on that base sprinter.
I make well over $100K and I always take the Metro. It makes no sense for me to get in my car, LOL. DC traffic is horrendous, and from my recollection, I-78 and NY 495 aren't much better. Back when I lived in NY, I remember I-87 was always hell and the train was a breeze. Unless I had fuck-you-money and could take a chopper in, I see no reason to avoid the train. Hell, even my boss who has a personal driver prefers the Metro, it's just way faster.
where can we land helicopters in the city?
My pay grade isn't high enough to know those spots. However, if you just look at Google Maps I can count dozens of rooftop helipads on office buildings alone. You'd need to get FAA clearance which would be routed thru your helicopter charter service (I presume), and would most likely have to clear it with the owner of the building. However, if you're rich enough to afford to ride blades into the city, then you probably have people who can get that done for you.
There's also that massive helipad by the Battery Maritime building as a backup! LOL
There's one by Hudson Yards, one near Wall Street, and one on the east side near Murray Hill
Sure it gets you into the city but I don't think most CEOs use helicopter every day, it's not realistic, not really that safe, and you still need to figure out last-mile transit to the office. Personal driver is the choice if you are a public figure. Helicopters are very common for airport transfers though.
$100K can't get you anything reasonable in most train towns around Manhattan. I think this question becomes a lot more interesting at $1M pre-tax income. I feel like there is definitely an income level beyond which most stay in the city, but am curious about where that might be.
I know babysitters in NYC clearing $100k. It’s basically minimum wage now.
really? i could see it being worth $50/h for 40h/week if they helped with class work.
Top rated school tutors are getting 125-200 an hour in NYC…
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Quality post.
Lol. Metro North net worth on the express from Greenwich in the morning must be something. My guess for highest net worth public transit per capita is an M1 bus in the East 60s around 6pm.
what's wrong with the train?
I take the train, along with my D and MD. Traffic is insane at peak hours.
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