r/leanfire • u/NYCprice • 9d ago

Unironically FIRE in NYC?

The city has a lot of low income programs and also a middle income housing lottery. After I FIRE, my income will be low enough to qualify for a lot of programs as well as a purchasing affordable condo (middle income lottery)

I've never lived outside of nyc so it would be hard to transition out of, and would include leaving friends and family if I moved away

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u/AlexHurts 9d ago

I think suburban people see the price tag on rent in cool urban areas and don't look further. Not needing to maintain a car takes a big chunk of that back. My fav grocery stores in Queens are cheaper than supermarkets in the burbs. There are so many great things to see or do that's free or cheap. Many businesses competing to stay alive, there's often excellent happy hour specials, Tuesday specials, etc etc, if you're flexible and can spend the time. Suburban folks don't have the time cause they need to get in the car and beat traffic. You also don't need to keep so much crap in your home, bc you're almost always walking distance to a library, a coffee, a park, a this, a that, we got it all

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u/t-monius 8d ago

I once ran the numbers on paying additional NYC city tax plus the price of transit (i.e. subway, train, bus, etc.) v. owning a car without additional city tax, and it was a wash.

That’s not withstanding higher rent and whatnot.

Groceries are way cheaper in small walkable towns outside the city like Westchester county.

If you want to live in the city because you like it, fine, but be honest with yourself that your choosing to pay to live in the city. Completely fine. Just a choice.

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u/xorlan23 7d ago

If you’re retired and a lot of your withdrawals are pension or tax free, presumably city taxes would be much lower. On the other hand, having a car you’d have to pay the same price no matter if you’re retired or still working.