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I don’t agree with the above, especially as “great life” is defined differently by individuals. I lived in NYC (Manhattan) all my life up until a few decades ago, and had an apartment there after graduating from college. (First a studio near Central Park on my own, later a one-bedroom downtown shared with a roommate. Both were in very good neighborhoods.) I supported myself for years on a typical liberal-arts grad’s salary (certainly under the $50 grand a year criterion, including allowing for the difference in dollar value between then and now) and really do think I had a “great life” doing it. There is LOTS of free stuff to do in NYC (Shakespeare in Central Park in the summer) and lots of minimal cost stuff (pay what you wish museums, Staten Island ferry, …). Lincoln Center often holds free outdoor concerts on the plaza. I took great adult ed classes and even went to a private university for some night graduate courses, all while paying off some student loans. I took ballet classes in a church basement in Greenwich Village. There was room in my budget for occasional forays to the opera.</p>
<p>Plus students get major student discounts for many events and memberships.</p>
<p>Remember, living in such urban places you are spared car ownership and its expenses – the bane of my current suburban existence. I was able to walk to work and many other places. For the rest, subways and busses did the job.</p>
<p>Admittedly, my experience is from decades ago, but I still have family there (close as well as extended) living “great” lives. My mom (80) still lives in Manhattan on a modest income as does one of my middle-aged brothers. </p>
<p>My D lived in D.C. one summer on a modest income and also found LOTS of free stuff to do.</p>
<p>Dining out at top restaurants and ordering the best wines may not be included in such a budget, but some good chocolate every now and then would do it for me! ;)</p>