Shraf

NYC is very expensive compared to other areas...its hard to realize if you live there or around there your whole life and it is also hard to grasp if you are commuting. It is very different living on campus vs. living at home since you have to buy food etc and convenience usually forces you to buy prepared food which is more expensive of course.

they also dont exist....the longest unlimited ride metrocard is the monthly card for like $76

though you have a nice (though incomplete) summary of public transportation there it is the last thing that students living on campus (at columbia and elsewhere) think about.

When college students think about finances they usually think about food and alcohol, both of which are not cheap. For me, i tend to spend anywhere from 400-600 bucks a month depending of course on how much i go out and how much work i have. Everyone's situation is different though and you'll find that your situation is different at different times in ur college career. For example, this year i'm saving alot of money by cooking which i had a harder time doing before when i lived in a hallway style dorm. Also, since my parents live in the city, i tend to get meat etc from my mom which saves money. I tend not to go out that much so i dont spend nearly as much as i could on expensive drinks at bars. Also, having a gf runs up your expenses...or even going on dates.....while there is some really good food in nyc restaurants tend to be expensive, especially if you are paying for two.

In my case, I have gotten an allowance from my parents since freshman year...$400 a month and i have also worked since freshman year....i used to make about $400 a month but now i make about $700....i find that its very manageable and i still actually save money despite being in college....but as i said everyone's situation is different. Let me know if you want any further clarification.