Renee Li settled in New York after living in Asia, Europe, and South America.
Renee Li
This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Renee Li, a 29-year-old analytics engineer in New York. It has been edited for length and clarity.I've been in New York for about three years. Before that, I was fully nomadic in Asia, South America, and Europe, living out of a carry-on.Most of my friends were in New York, and over time, I found myself spending a quarter to half the year here. Eventually, I got a remote analytics engineer job at a fintech company based in the city, and it gave me another reason to settle down here. I wanted a place to call home.I make $250,000 a year as an analytics engineer, get equity, and invest in real estate. Plus, I play poker, which can go either way financially. Sometimes it's income, sometimes it's a loss.
New York is the most expensive place I've lived, by far. As much as I complain about the fees and late subways, New York is still hard to beat.I pay $3,500 for a one-bedroom in Nolita, near SoHo in ManhattanI moved near SoHo in a 400-square-foot apartment for the convenience of being steps from multiple subway lines, grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, and cafés. Food and dining are another major expense. I spend about $650 a month on food, mostly eating out, with 20% on groceries. Shopping is usually around $600 to $800 a month, including clothes, skincare, furniture, and household items.
