<p>I will be graduating in December with a degree in communications and am still unsure of what I want to do. I want to work in the film industry and have ever since I was young, but living in connecticut has held back on that a bit. I have done several internships with media companies around here, but in CT the stations and companies are small and there is really no room to grow at them.</p>
<p>After I finish school I'm going to look into getting a job in either Manhattan or Boston as they have so much more to offer in my field. Which, in your opinions, would be a better move. I currently live halfway between both of these cities so neither is farther from home than the other. Where would you choose and why?</p>
<p>Um, wherever you get the better job is the best place to move… that said, you don’t plan to commute, do you? If you’re two hours outside of manhattan commuting would take an eternity (probably about four each way)</p>
<p>From what I have heard, it would be best to work in Boston after graduation. The reasoning for this involves living expenses within New York City. Even if you don’t plan to go out much, the rent in NYC is outrageous. I believe I once read somewhere that NYC residents earn 19% more than the rest of the U.S., but the living expenses is 96% more than the rest of the U.S. If you plan to actually live in Manhattan, you are going to want to start out at 50K/yr. to live decently, and that is based on living in the outskirts of Manhattan. The better apartments will cost about 2K/month for rent, and many won’t allow you to rent unles you are making 40X the monthly rent, thus 80K/yr.! There are very few communication jobs that will start you out at that kind of money right after graduation, but your internships may get you enough to make the 50K cut. The other NYC boroughs won’t be nearly as harsh expense wise, but the commute could be a pain if you’re not used to it. If you at least start out at Boston you can get a few years experience, which will allow you to get a much better paying job in NYC if you choose to move there.</p>
<p>Is there really a need to make a decision now? I’d wait and try getting jobs in both cities, and then take the best one. Of course, you have to take what apayton said into consideration for NYC. I was considering doing my graduate studies in Pittsburgh and found that the cost of living there was 1/4 that of NYC!</p>