Could I Afford to Live Comfortably in New York City With This Occupation and Income?

Question by PER92: Could I afford to live comfortably in New York City with this occupation and income?
I am hoping to become an Urban Planner. According to PayScale.com, the average salary for those with 20 years of experience is US$ 97,250. How far out from New York City would I have to be to live comfortably on that income? Could I live comfortably in Manhattan, or Brooklyn or Queens?

Also, is it common for people to start out living maybe an hour away from NYC somewhere in the metropolitan area and then as their income rises move closer in over time?

Best answer:

Answer by Gertrud S
i would say – no. not anywhere in the places you mentioned.
maybe in some rundown neighbourhood. it is not just the
exorbitant rents, it is also high cost for food, services and so
on.

i can say so, since my daughter held a residency in the NYU
clinic and had no chance to survive on her earnings, she
absolutely depended on my contributions.

Answer by MadMan
Of course you can. You will not be able to live in Manhattan, but you can live in Jersey etc. Where do people think people who work on the subways etc. live?