You are planning on driving into the city for work? Parking will run you about $600 a month and the toll is $16 round trip but a little cheaper if you use E-Z pass.

For a 30 minute commute by car, you will either be heading in at 5:00 am or living less than 100 feet away from a tunnel entrance.

Unless you work IN your car, take public transportation. It's faster and much cheaper.

Large management companies tend to have the 30% or 3x rule but smaller buildings and private landlords are more lenient. Broker fee is one month's rent. The closer the town is to NYC or a train station, the higher the rent.