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Can You Afford a 1-Bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City? The Salary Math.

We use a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,910/month as a proxy for the 1-bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $168,000/year before taxes.HUD does not publish a separate FMR for a 1-bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City. Showing the 2-bedroom rent of $2,910/month as a proxy.

HUD does not publish a separate FMR for a 1-bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City. Showing the 2-bedroom rent of $2,910/month as a proxy.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $2,910/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$73,710$4,73361.5%Too much
Early career (25th pct.)$103,360$6,32946%Too much
Median$126,130$7,53738.6%Stretch
Experienced (75th pct.)$126,130$7,53738.6%Stretch
Top earners (90th pct.)$126,150$7,53838.6%Stretch

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25-30% | Stretch 30-40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 1-Bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
$302,410/yr median
Orthodontists
$281,850/yr median

Keep exploring New York-Newark-Jersey City

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Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
You need roughly $168,000/year gross to keep a 1-bedroom at $2,910/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That uses current federal and NY state tax brackets with FICA, assuming single filing and the standard deduction.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents at the metro level, not for New York-Newark-Jersey City as a whole. We use the statewide 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,493/month as a proxy.
Is New York-Newark-Jersey City expensive for renters?
Yes. New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56, meaning everyday expenses run 13% above the national average. Rent at the HUD FMR takes up a larger share of take-home pay here than in most cities.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
The following occupations in New York-Newark-Jersey City have median salaries that keep 1-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric, Orthodontists.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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