Rail Fares to rise again, above inflation.

[supermop]

At least in a circa 1870s tenement building in New York heating is free. (Big heavy oil boiler in the basement sending steam throughout the whole building). However it means that you have basically no control over when it is on, so you may be freezing on some days in October when the Landlord has yet to turn it on, but also opening all the windows on the odd warm day in January. Of course, that just means the cost of having the oil truck stop by a couple times a year is built into everyone's rent in some way. Electricity and gas are a bit more in New York than elsewhere in the country (New Yorkers use relatively low energy relative to other people in developed countries, because unlike our countrymen, we pay dearly for it). I don't use much of either and can expect to pay $70 a month depending on how much cooking I do (almost nothing other than the small refrigerator is using power in my place during the day, and unlike many people here I don't have an air-conditioner). Internet costs around $140 with cable TV, around $100 without. My rent itself is $2600 for a two-bedroom in Chinatown, 4th floor walk up. I plan on subletting the second room for short term leases. During peak seasons (September and May), I can get around $200 a night for the room on AirBnB, typically in 4 night stays. Obviously one isn't going to rent the room out every night of the month, but you can make more at those times than you would with a roommate. The rest of the year, you can't count on regular visitors, so it's better off finding people who want a 3 or 6 month lease, possibly for a furnished place.

In terms of transportation, and extension the topic, I haven't bought unlimited monthly metrocards since 2009, as I walk to work. At that time, they cost about $80, which gives unlimited use of the subway and bus system for 30 days. Currently these cost a bit over $100. As the subway has a flat fare, and transfers to and from buses are free, one could conceivably live in the far reaches of Staten Island, Queens, or the Bronx and only pay $100 a month in transportation. I typically just fill up a regular metrocard with about $50 a month, which I use for site visits at work, and traveling to see friends in other boroughs.

[Kevo00]

Seriously Ext, it sounds like you are paying way over the odds for gas. Switch supplier and pay by direct debit - you can save real money by doing it.

[EXTspotter]

After reading all the comments, I think so too, Kevo00. Anything which means I may not freeze continuously for several months is welcome!

[JamieLei]

In terms of transportation, and extension the topic, I haven't bought unlimited monthly metrocards since 2009, as I walk to work. At that time, they cost about $80, which gives unlimited use of the subway and bus system for 30 days. Currently these cost a bit over $100. As the subway has a flat fare, and transfers to and from buses are free, one could conceivably live in the far reaches of Staten Island, Queens, or the Bronx and only pay $100 a month in transportation. I typically just fill up a regular metrocard with about $50 a month, which I use for site visits at work, and traveling to see friends in other boroughs.

That's something that I find interesting in my research. Aside from the fact that the MTA is subsidised to quite a large extent, the fact that the entire city is one fare zone means that the marginal cost of commuting is wholly constituted of time. Whether you live in the Rockaways or Brooklyn Heights, the monetary cost is the same but by living in Brooklyn Heights you're saving yourself a good 30-40 minutes.

I'll be buying a few unlimited ride metrocards when I do research in NYC in September.

[beeb375]

Internet costs around $140 with cable TV, around $100 without.

Is that typical for the US or does New York just have really expensive internet? What sort of speed do you get for that?

[orudge]

American cable companies are rip-off merchants of the highest order.

Comcast, for instance, seems to be offering 50Mbps for $114.95/month, or 105Mbps for $199.95/month. (No TV with that.) They do have 20Mbps for $29.99 ("for 6 months") and 30Mbps for $49.99 (again, "for 6 months"). After 6 months, this one goes up to $79.95/month. The $29.99 one goes up to $42.95 to $62.95, "depending on area and other Comcast services (if any) received".

The cheapest bundle of TV and Internet is $66.99 for 12 months, then $56 to $62 plus $42.95 to $62.95 plus $15.95 to $21.95 for the component parts. So basically $114.90/month to $146.90/month for their cheapest package!

[GurraJG]

Mobile telephony in the US is also s*** expensive. Look at the last graph on this page. In the UK, the minimum total price of an iPhone on a 24-month contract is 998 USD. That means the cost of the handset, as well as texts, calls and data. In the US, the lowest cost comparable iPhone would be 1920 USD, almost twice what it is in the UK.

[JamieLei]

Ouch.

But then it's only really the UK that clings on to pay-as-you-go plans, as far as I know. Most other developed countries force you into lengthy contracts.

[doktorhonig]

They offer both here. You can get 1GB, 1000 SMS and 1000 free minutes within the network for 7,50. If you need a subsidised phone, your contract will last 24 months, otherwise you can quit each month.

[GurraJG]

Ouch.

But then it's only really the UK that clings on to pay-as-you-go plans, as far as I know. Most other developed countries force you into lengthy contracts.

I dunno, I've seen PAYG in most of the Europe. I'm on one in Sweden. I guess contracts are more heavily promoted elsewhere, but PAYG is still relatively common, in my experience.

[audigex]

They offer both here. You can get 1GB, 1000 SMS and 1000 free minutes within the network for 7,50. If you need a subsidised phone, your contract will last 24 months, otherwise you can quit each month.

The best UK PAYG tarriffs are similar - £10/month for Unlimited Internet, Unlimited SMS and 250 minutes, or £15 for 400 minutes, £20 for 800 minutes, £25 for 1500 minutes.

If you want a subsidised phone you pay more and usually end up getting less, but obviously get a phone with it. I worked out that my contract was costing me £120 more over the 2 years for the cost of the phone and tariff, while getting less texts/internet: plus I can jump ship if my provider annoy me, provide rubbish service or, usefully, if I move house/job to an area with bad service.

My final reason for swapping was Orange's unilateral announcement that they were (mid contract) raising my contract amount. A contract that locks me in completely for 2 years but allows the provider to arbitrarily raise prices, isn't fair.

[Dave]

Never had a problem with Orange I must say - they've been incredibly helpful to me in times of need.

[doktorhonig]

My final reason for swapping was Orange's unilateral announcement that they were (mid contract) raising my contract amount. A contract that locks me in completely for 2 years but allows the provider to arbitrarily raise prices, isn't fair.

That's strange. In Austria, if someone changes a contract, you have the right to terminate it without any cost. It's actually seen as some kind of a jackpot, because usually you can keep the phone.

[GurraJG]

My final reason for swapping was Orange's unilateral announcement that they were (mid contract) raising my contract amount. A contract that locks me in completely for 2 years but allows the provider to arbitrarily raise prices, isn't fair.

That's strange. In Austria, if someone changes a contract, you have the right to terminate it without any cost. It's actually seen as some kind of a jackpot, because usually you can keep the phone.

Presumably, the contract with Orange provides for a price change. They can't break the contract, so there's probably some small type in the contract that allows them to raise the price.

[audigex]

Yeah they put in a catch-all "We can change this contract at any time with reasonable notice" or something similar. There's a government mandated rule that if the price rise is above a certain percentage then you have the right to terminate, but they didn't advertise or mention it and when I brought it up with them (along with others) they refused to acknowledge it. I only had 2 months left on my contract so didn't bother pushing it further for the £5 or whatever it was, but it infuriated me how they tried to abuse a contract and there's no way in hell I'm going back to them.

[JamieLei]

Paying off the rest of the contract is reasonable, I thought. The service is about x minutes/x texts/x data and a phone over 24 months. If you terminate early, you pay off the remaining months. Of course, that's assuming there's a very large investment in you from the beginning with a snazzy phone.

Softbank in Japan had this ridiculous termination clause. If you didn't terminate in the last month, it was 10,000yen (about £80) 'penalty'. It was a 2-year contract and of course, most of us were there 10-12 months, so based on our monthly charge (1,350yen) it worked out better. Of course if someone stayed 23 months and wasn't able to stick around for the 24th month to cancel, they'd also be stuck with the charge, which is simply not fair.