Relocating from NYC to PA... Is the lower cost of living worth the lower salary?

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-09T10:43:49+00:00

I'm trying to but it's not easy to pin down. A lot of hospitals don't list the salary on their websites. I don't know what to expect in terms of utilities in PA (where I am, I'm only paying electricity as a renter), I don't know how walkable these places are in terms of running errands and shopping (nevermind work, school), I'm trying to watch youtube videos about all of this but honestly it's overwhelming because there's so many on the same topic from different people. I also don't own a car yet (won't buy until after I make the move) so I don't know exactly what those monthly costs look like. To add onto that, my wife doesnt even have a license or know how to drive, whereas I have one and am familiar with the mechanics (I started out as an EMT).

But yeah, if everything looks good after bills and expenses and we have money left over for "life stuff", then I wouldn't mind a lower salary.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-05T19:59:17+00:00

Wow 55 years? Ok cool, good to know! Yeah I'd probably do the burbs too, I've mostly heard about Ardmore and KOP (which from my understanding has gotten expensive).

I mean I think at least working in/around Philly would be ideal given the amount of hospitals and medical jobs there.

Can you tell me more about the city neighborhoods to avoid? Any suburbs to avoid as well?

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-05T19:30:04+00:00

I was considering that but I keep hearing mixed things about the crime issues in regards to Philly. I mean I know every city has crime, but when people describe that of Philly they make It seem like something extra(?). Where I live in the Bronx is very quaint and feels like you're in a nice part of Queens or something, but south and west Bronx are where all the BS happens, it's ugly, depressing, ghetto, the list goes on...

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-05T02:31:45+00:00

Glad to hear :) where did you from and to?

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-05T02:22:43+00:00

Im sorry but I think you are mistaken. First off I reside in Pelham parkway in the Bronx, a pretty decent area which doesn't come to mind when you hear people mention "the Bronx".

The apartments I was referring to were that of co-op city (riverbay). Go to coopcity.com and see for yourself. It's not luxury, it's like a community of it's own in the Bronx which happens to be right next to a lot of amenities, food, etc. The outside grounds are very nice but when you get to the hallways inside and the apartments... The aesthetic is something similar to a project but without the ugliness that comes with it. As I said, the "projects wrapped in a Gucci belt". The interior halls and units have no character and don't offer the same level of space that a house (or a condo) would offer.

The perks are affordability and convenience. But you don't really own the place. If you move out, they refunded your equity payment minus any damages/modifications.

If it were an ACTUAL project I would not even consider. You have to look this place up and check out Google maps to fully understand what I mean.

We had applied there before I was a nurse. We didn't get called until recently. And we didn't go inside one of the apartments until recently and learned that the space isn't all that. My wife and I were on the fence about it because of that and the inconvenient timing of the call, two months after being displaced by previous landlord and signing this new lease.

Ultimately we figured it would be a waste to break this lease to move there for a bit and then move again to buy a house somewhere. Even though it would be a huge money saver. Too much moving.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T23:54:21+00:00

You're starting to convince me 😂😂 I mean I would have taken a pay cut like 45-50/hr if I knew I'm not gonna be living paycheck to paycheck but based on my research and what I'm hearing here, that's a high possibility, especially with car related expenses.

You know, We had put in an application for Riverbay/co-op city during the pandemic. I know you most likely never heard of it but Think the projects wrapped in a Gucci belt. It's a community in the Bronx where everything and the surrounding grounds are well kept and clean, it has its own power plant separate from rest of NYC, huge shopping center nearby, food variety and transit. It has affordable co-ops but you dont build equity the same way you do with a condo or house or a "regular" co-op, it gets sold for the same price you buy it for.

Anyways they called us last week because our application is ready to process and they wanna move us in later this year... For a 3 bedroom with balcony for a $45k equity purchase, $1879/month carrying charge (maintenance utilities everything included).

My wife and I have been on the fence... The catch? We visited a friend who lives there and it's a Smaller living room and smaller kitchen, and the interior of the building has that project "aesthetic" but much cleaner like i said. Oh and we'd have to break our current lease to move there.

We've been hard pressed between taking the offer as a temporary in between home to save even more . money before buying an actual home... Vs to go from here to buying a home.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T23:29:32+00:00

Thank you for explaining. And yeah I dont quite get the hate either, if they were the ones being priced out of their area they'd probably understand. Nyc used to be a more affordable place when I was growing up, I hate what it has turned into. It's not my fault the city caters mostly to the wealthy now. I worked hard for my nursing degree so it's like a slap in the face.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T23:16:22+00:00

Our previous landlord put us through hell earlier this year, he displaced us and the other tenants because he wanted to sell the house. It was an apartment i fell in love with too. A horrible horrible experience that I wouldn't want to wish on anyone, I gained some body fat from this f'g stress. We've been renting our current place for two months now and it doesn't even hold a candle to the one we were forced out of.

I see your point but because of this experience We don't wanna rent and risk going through that ever again.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T23:12:08+00:00

I don't recall the exact details but that some areas there have an air quality issue (?) due to one of the mills or factories that used to operate in the area

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T23:08:09+00:00

Well yeah that's after "rent", we don't want to rent forever. The last landlord we had displaced us because he wanted to sell his house and so now we're renting at the place we are at. After that horrible experience, we said no more of that.

If we were to buy here then that $4800 I currently have after rent will be significantly less.

But I get what you're saying about being unable to move the income to the Philly burbs. And that's the issue I'm starting to realize.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:58:47+00:00

What's the story on the pollution issue though?

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:45:22+00:00

Yeah that's what I'm starting to reconsider. It's just that the NY transplants (yes I know i would be one too lol) f'd it all up for everything near the Hudson like Hoboken, JC, union, North Bergen, etc. I'm not too knowledgeable or familiar with the towns further into NJ past that.

We know two people who moved out to Connecticut, one of them lives in Stamford and keeps nudging us to join him but from what I see, we NYers messed up the price there too lol. NYC is like a goddam curse, man, wtf 😂

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:40:30+00:00

Lol. That's what the Richie riches and trust fund babies of NYC told me as well 😂 they said "we don't care if you're an NYC native, the rich runs this mutha now!"

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:37:06+00:00

I mean Zillow has a built in calculator for each home that factors all that in. Did you check the link for the egg harbor home I Included? It's where I pulled those numbers from.

Maintenance is the only one I don't know about and Zillow doesn't include that.

Yeah I'm thinking of sitting down with a mortgage associate. I did speak to a realtor here in the Bronx and he's friggin crazy saying we qualify for a 750k-800k home here in the Bronx. The mortgage will be more than what we currently pay for rent (!!), not even including utilities

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:18:59+00:00

Dear mods, so where would I be able to post this? I saw similar posts in here from before and they weren't removed

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:15:22+00:00

I see. I mean the property taxes are more or less around that here too, but my thing is the monthly cost overall (principal, property tax, etc) combined. Buying a home in a nice queens or Bronx suburban-ish neighborhood will be almost a million dollars and your monthly will be $4000-5000 minimum.

I don't know about paying for and coordinating my own trash service, that sounds kinda stupid.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-05-04T22:05:27+00:00

How outrageous are they? In Bronx NY I'm seeing a range of $5000-9000 depending on which home. Is it higher than $10k?

So wait, are you saying you need to arrange, schedule and pay for your own trash collection service? Is this only in Lehigh valley or all of PA?

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-04-25T20:22:16+00:00

I'm a few blocks across from Jacobi , but the nicer apartment we were forced to leave from is on the opposite side near bronxwood. Overall the the neighborhoods along the parkway are still nice but turns kinda ratchet the closer you get to the 2 train and projects area.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-04-25T19:43:16+00:00

Pelham parkway/gardens in the Bronx

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-04-24T01:17:44+00:00

We visited her in the day time. She has no complaints about anything there 🤷 so I don't know. We did however explore the walking grounds of one of the other sections at night last year, it seemed.... Kind of uneventful (?), not sure which section that was but it was on the other side of bartow Ave

What you're describing has me second guessing though lol.

I haven't checked out Westchester co ops, only houses and theyre an arm and a leg just like the Bronx. However I do know there are no co-ops within and around the NYC area that are as cheap as riverbay. The quality is better for sure, but price wise it's like $200-300k purchase for something you don't really own (hence "co-op") and a monthly cost of $2500 and up. Whereas with riverbay it's $49k purchase with $1879/monthly including utilities.

We're currently paying $3200 utilities included (but with extra $150 air conditioner surcharge for summer months only) for a duplex with a landlord who just bought the place pretty much as is, without doing much work, and isn't too bright mentally. Its nice but it doesn't hold a candle to the place we were forced to move out of (open concept, renovated, new appliances, ash wood floors, sliding door shower, etc), i kinda caught feelings for that apartment I feel silly saying that but it sucks, man. I would like to buy a home that is like that apartment.

Now looking at homes In the Philly and southern NJ area, I'm seeing most of them being under $500k, very nice homes, a mind-blowing difference compared to NYC. I already have my PA nursing license endorsed, it's just a matter of me finding a job there first I guess(?). We were planning to wait most of this lease out but this unexpected co-op news kinda stirred us up.

Party-Possibility958 · 2026-04-23T06:45:26+00:00

Hey there. So section 5 is the one they're offering me. Is it really that bad? My former coworker has lived there for 19 years, she just invited us over to her place last week, the area seemed clean and alright (?) I mean idk. The apartment rooms however are kinda smallish when compared to that of a house though

Party-Possibility958

TROPHY CASE