New York, NY – In addition to skyrocketing rent and gas prices, New Yorkers are being nickel and dimed to death, shelling out 21 cents more for a box of Corn Flakes, 29 cents more for a six-pack of beer, and about a buck extra to go to the movies. It even costs more to treat a headache than it did in 2010.
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Costs are creeping upward for everything from a coffee-cart cup of Joe to a carton of milk to a TV dinner.
A Post analysis found that rent has risen 5 percent and a sampling of New Yorkers’ common purchases have jumped about 14 percent.
The average price of a regular gallon of gas in New York City was $4.21 Friday, compared with $3.08 a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association.
“I’m not going to be driving over the summer,” fumed Rutgers University Professor Elizabeth Grosz, 58, who said she spends $18 a day driving from Union Square to her job at the New Jersey college. She said her pay has been frozen for three years.
Rents are climbing, too.
The average price of a one-bedroom apartment in a Manhattan doorman building last month was $3,529 up from $3,360 a year ago, according to The Real Estate Group New York.
When her landlord hiked the rent on her Manhattan apartment by $140 a month, 26-year-old Anna Rygiel said she decided to flee to Brooklyn.
She also said groceries cost about $20 more a week than they used to.
TRANSPORTATION
Monthly unlimited MetroCard
2010: $89 2011: $104
15-gallon gas fill-up
2010: $46.20 ($3.08/gal. regular) 2011: $63.15 ($4.21/gal. regular)
UTILITIES
January average Con Ed apartment bill
2010: $65.19 2011: $72.69
CLOTHING
J. Crew cotton women’s shirt
2010: $69.50 2011: $72
Boys’ blue jeans
2010: $24.50 2011: $34.50
RENT
Average Manhattan one-bedroom, doorman building
2010: $3,360 2011: $3,529
ENTERTAINMENT
Cable/Internet bill
2010: $122 2011: $129
GROCERIES
4-pound chicken
2010: $7.08 ($1.77/pound) 2011: $11.96 ($2.99/pound)
1 pound ground beef
2010: $3.59 2011: $4.99
Head iceberg lettuce
2010: $2.16 2011: $2.49
One dozen large eggs
2010: $2.67 2011: $3.99
Chunk light tuna
2010: $1.74 2011: $1.79
Frozen chicken dinner
2010: $4.79 2011: $5.19
5 pounds sugar
2010: $4.38 2011: $5.49
Kleenex tissues, 200-count
2010: $2.58 2011: $2.99
1 can coffee
2010: $5.82 2011: $6.99
Advil 200-count
2010: $9.54 2011: $9.99
Orange juice 64 oz.
2010: $4.94 2011: $5.39
Half gallon whole milk
2010: $2.47 2011: $2.99
2-liter Coke
2010: $2 2011: $2.29
Loaf white bread
2010: $2.28 2011: $2.89
1 pound bananas
2010: 85¢ 2011: $1.29
6-pack Heineken
2010: $10.70 2011: $10.99
18-oz. Corn Flakes
2010: $5.38 2011: $5.59
FAST FOOD
Pizza Hut 12-inch pie
2010: $11.86 2011: $14.99
Medium coffee, street vendor
2010: $1 2011: $1.25
Quarter Pounder with cheese
2010: $3.92 2011: $3.99
Bagel at Ess-A-Bagel
2010: 85¢ 2011: $1.00
Plus, rent went up +5%
Fortunately, salaries and bonuses in NYC are also among the highest in the U.S. and most employers recognize the high cost of living in the metropolitan area. For example, many banks and law firms have now adopted a two -tiered compensation system for those who work in their New York offices and those who work in other locations. The starting salary for first-year lawyers at most of the large firms is $178,000/yr in New York but only $145,000 in other locations. Even the federal government per diem reimbursement in New York is much higher here ($338/day) compared to only $266/day in Washington and $249 in Miami.
help everything costs too much
THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT –
In 2012 – please ask yourself – are you better off now than 4 years ago, when you were employed at a decent paying job, had full health coverage for half the price of now, paid less tuition because the Govt gave to Yeshivos, etc, etc.
Does that mean 14% inflation?
#1 , r-u delusional or what ?there are other people in NY besides corporate-lawyers. an , they no longer start at the salary you imagine.where have u been the last 18 months >???