Where could you live comfortably on 80k a year?

[Anonymous]

I lived in Manhattan on a 45 salary a few years. Of course I had a tiny 200sf rent stabalized apt in a run down building that was a walkup.

I recall I was making 775 biweely and rent was 775 so rent was 50 percent But I had no cable, internet and only bill was phone and electricity which was tiny as no AC.

Work gave me free metro card and had no car. So took train everwhere. Work also had a subsidized lunch so ate there every day.

That was a long time ago but flash forward to 2025 my nephew has a $2,000 a month rent stabalized unit and his girlfriend moved in . Cost each 1k a month.

Manhattan can be cheap.

[Anonymous]

Our family of 4, including two teenagers and a small mortgage, lives on 120K per year in Bethesda. That's not counting college costs, which come out of a different pot.

When they were younger, we got by on 80K a year. But that was before the pandemic-and tariff-era inflation.

So it depends how many of you are on this income and what your needs are, but one or two people could live on that much in this very area. And indeed, many do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?

Do you need good schools?

Are you liberal or conservative?

This is a liberal neighborhood with good schools.

https://www.redfin.com/neighborhood/223211/PA/Pittsburgh/Mount-Lebanon?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=dsa-1627309567575&utm_content=690371919335&utm_campaign=1034074&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NfDBhDyARIsAD-ILeA9SrvO32-4Fb5jKNwUeMW_-52Ex6CrEIRP34ydROc-HIJCVygjCzgaAnKMEALw_wcB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:80k?! Is this a joke? That is not enough money to live comfortably anywhere that is not straight up third world. Like you will be living like a local with no ac and a squat toilet in Eastern Europe/Asia.

OP here. This doesn't sound right. They can spend the full 80k on living expenses. I was thinking if we could find somewhere where you could get a rental for around 2k/mo would work, would adjust higher or lower depending on taxes, whether they'd need a car, etc.

I was expecting suggestions for smaller cities in the midwest, south, and rust belt, maybe midsize cities in Europe? They'd be open to Mexico for sure (one of them speaks Spanish very well) though I'm mildly worried about the heat.

I’m the poster who suggested Mexico.

I lived in Mexico City for a year, and it’s not hot at all because of the altitude. The weather was absolutely lovely - much nicer than DC. Mexico City is a cosmopolitan city with an excellent public transportation system, plenty of cultural events, and incredibly delicious food. I’d move there again in a heartbeat if I wasn’t tied to my job here.

Mexicans don’t want American expats anymore driving up their prices. They are protesting now in Mexico City. Unless you speak the language and look like you will blend it, I honestly would not move anywhere where people are having anti-tourist and anti-expat protests. I am not saying it’s unsafe necessarily or you will be hurt, but it’s because the environment might be unpleasant and you will feel unwelcome. No need to go overseas at all having 80K a year for a childless couple with subsidized healthcare. You can live anywhere in the USA pretty much outside of the most expensive neighborhoods or HCOL cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family of 4, including two teenagers and a small mortgage, lives on 120K per year in Bethesda. That's not counting college costs, which come out of a different pot.

When they were younger, we got by on 80K a year. But that was before the pandemic-and tariff-era inflation.

So it depends how many of you are on this income and what your needs are, but one or two people could live on that much in this very area. And indeed, many do!

Exactly. I cannot believe this entire thread. A childless couple with subsidized healthcare can easily afford to live in DC metro or any HCOLA if not insisting on the most premium neighborhoods. Even in nice suburbs of HCOL cities you can find a condo for rent for under 3K that would be comfortable for a couple. And in middle class suburbs you could rent an entire house for 3K.

If 80K is after tax (which is what it sounds like) I seriously don’t understand how people suggest you need to go overseas for greener pastures. It’s over 6600 a month take home money. Finding a rental for 2600 should not be hard for a childless couple not insisting on posh accommodations. Then you have 4K to live on because you aren’t paying $$$$ for private health insurance premiums/deductibles and have no house maintenance costs. If you cannot find a way to live on it comfortably (I assume there is no pressure to save and there is already retirement fund of some sort) then you don’t have your head screwed on right.

The key here is not having to save (it seems like this is the living income after tax) and not having to pay exorbitant rapacious health insurance costs. You can have fairly comfortable life anywhere in the USA.

[Anonymous]

Cuenca Ecuador
Medellin Colombia
Mexico
Bangkok Thailand
Istanbul Turkey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cuenca Ecuador
Medellin Colombia
Mexico
Bangkok Thailand
Istanbul Turkey

Yes, and high end

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?

for the burbs, Sewickley, Franklin Park, places north of the city

Sewickley and Franklin Park are very nice but also very pricey.

In the South Hills, I’m thinking of Dormont or Bethel Park or maybe some of the city neighborhoods like Brookline. Further south in Washington County, there are a lot of towns with low costs of living - they can also look in Butler County but I do not know any specific towns.

One thing about the Pittsburgh area is that rents are pretty expensive - it may have changed with interest rates but it is typically less expensive to buy here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Manhattan on a 45 salary a few years. Of course I had a tiny 200sf rent stabalized apt in a run down building that was a walkup.

I recall I was making 775 biweely and rent was 775 so rent was 50 percent But I had no cable, internet and only bill was phone and electricity which was tiny as no AC.

Work gave me free metro card and had no car. So took train everwhere. Work also had a subsidized lunch so ate there every day.

That was a long time ago but flash forward to 2025 my nephew has a $2,000 a month rent stabalized unit and his girlfriend moved in . Cost each 1k a month.

Manhattan can be cheap.

$80,000 per year after-tax with no debt should yield a very comfortable life in Manhattan.

https://bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/kansas/manhattan

Additionally,college towns, such as Manhattan, Kansas, typically offer a variety of social and cultural options for retirees.

[Anonymous]

Mississippi. By yourself. No kids.

[Anonymous]

That's a solid NET for the vast majority of the world. I can only speak authoritatively for India. They'd be able to live a really good life - maid, cook, chauffeur, the works in some very nice parts of the country.

My brother is planning to retire to Costa Rica at least in part due to the COL (he loves the place and the people).

[Anonymous]

We could live comfortably here with no kids but house is paid off. Who is this for? Older. Look for a sliding scale independent living.

[Anonymous]

Is this for an elderly couple?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:80k?! Is this a joke? That is not enough money to live comfortably anywhere that is not straight up third world. Like you will be living like a local with no ac and a squat toilet in Eastern Europe/Asia.

+100

Adding: a trailer park home in the Midwest/Tornado Ally is also an option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburg

Thanks this is a good recommendation. Any particular neighborhoods you'd recommend? In the city or close in suburb?

for the burbs, Sewickley, Franklin Park, places north of the city

Sewickley and Franklin Park are very nice but also very pricey.

In the South Hills, I’m thinking of Dormont or Bethel Park or maybe some of the city neighborhoods like Brookline. Further south in Washington County, there are a lot of towns with low costs of living - they can also look in Butler County but I do not know any specific towns.

One thing about the Pittsburgh area is that rents are pretty expensive - it may have changed with interest rates but it is typically less expensive to buy here

My friend lived near Dormont. It's not fancy but it was low cost. And there are hills where you have a view of the city from your yard. You probably will be driving everywhere though.