[epc]

50k is low for an engineer, even fresh out of college, in NYC.

Ditch the car, you'd be frustrated as hell using it on any regular basis in the NYC metro area, and feel kind of stupid for carrying the overhead of it if you don't use it regularly.

Jersey City is fine if you're working somewhere commutable by PATH. If you're working in midtown you might consider farther north like Hoboken or Weehawken.

I moved to NYC in 1997 after trying to commute from upstate, whatever I was saving on housing I was blowing on commute time and expenses.

[ccm6gt]

I would never drive in the NYC metro area! I don't know how most people do it especially Taxi and Bus drivers. I don't plan to stay in NY because i'd like to stay with my family in the future so hopefully the company will allow me to work remotely after 1-2 years.