Do I need a roommate?

Submitted by Ultra_Amp t3_yf8g6w in boston

I'll be moving to Boston in the summer after I graduate, making about 90k. I understand that having a roommate makes things far more affordable, but the illogical (and generally more influential) side of my brain says live alone. If I'm looking at places like Beacon Hill, South Boston, or Allston, would I be able to live comfortably renting on my own?

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TotallyNotACatReally t1_iu2a9uk wrote

Depends on how expensive the other parts of your life are. If you travel often, party often, own a car, or have a lot of debt, you might need one (especially if you want to live somewhere nicer).

If you're frugal and flexible on what you want in an apartment, you'll be just fine.

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sarcasticlhath t1_iu2dr1h wrote

Get a roommate. Enjoy the money and enjoy having someone to do things with.

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boston_acc t1_iu2gxli wrote

I’m really feeling your second point there. It does get pretty lonely. Hard to go from a full day of socializing and stimulation at work, to absolutely nothing waiting for you when you get home.

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BoredinBoston524 t1_iu2jfqu wrote

If you do not know people/have friends in Boston, I would suggest finding a roommate who has also demonstrated an interest in building community in the city.

If you don’t mind the idea of having a roommate, I would suggest finding one and saving the money you save by not living alone (and/or allocating more to travel/hobbies)

If living alone is a high priority for you, however, yes - you can do it on that salary.

Your 30s are for hating having roommates. Your early/mid 20s are for tolerating them (and sometimes having a great time along the way), and your late 20s are for figuring out whether you will still be someone in your 30s with roommates (and in this city, that was a lot of us).

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michael_scarn_21 t1_iu28dpy wrote

Beacon Hill or South Boston you'd want a roommate for sure. Allston you could have your own place.

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aray25 t1_iu2jyug wrote

Five years ago, I was able to live alone on $65k in Cambridge of all places. Granted, rents have gone up since then, but not so much that you couldn't easily do the same on $90k.

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BabyLegsOShanahan t1_iu29ozc wrote

Depends where you are and if you want to spend half of your check on rent. A lot of places don’t include utilities anymore, which sucks. But there are some deals, for sure.

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man2010 t1_iu2fzuf wrote

This is dependent on your other expenses and financial goals, but in general yes you can live comfortably on your own at that income

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f0rtytw0 t1_iu33p68 wrote

As others have said, roommate. You will save more and make friends in a city where that doesn't happen very often.

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cayenne0 t1_iu2av08 wrote

Do one year with a roommate to save up some money, they get a new job with higher salary and get your own place.

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Wtf_is_this1234 t1_iu2f9n7 wrote

Yeah there's a lot of jobs/careers that won't pay much more than OP is making. 10 years ago $90k was considered good money. Now it's just...a living wage. OP should feel damn lucky to be making that much straight out of school. Most of us have to work 15+ years to get there.

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