What The ‘Friends’ New York Lifestyles Would Actually Cost In 2024
It’s hard to believe it, but Friends is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. The series premiered on September 22, 1994, according to imdb.com. And the world almost instantly fell in love with the cast. Except for Joey’s awkward long haircut. Glad that didn’t last.
In fact, we were all so mesmerized by the six main characters of the popular franchise, that few of us actually stopped to think about how realistic their lifestyles were. Not that logic has ever been a strong prerequisite for a good television show. In fact, it’s the fantasy of most of them that draws us in from our everyday lives.
To celebrate the anniversary of Friends in their own quirky way, a team of data analysts at JeffBet online casino gathered all the information needed to determine what the cost of living would be today for each Friends character. What they discovered is that only four of our loveable Friends would actually be able to afford their lifestyles in present-day New York. The other two probably would have to eventually say goodbye in a final episode called “The One Where They Move Back In With Their Parents”.
Friends Characters’ New York Cost Of Living In 2024
To determine the cost of living for each character, the JeffBet team considered the price of rent in New York City, as well as non-essentials like dating costs, coffee prices, and more. Then they used data from Glassdoor to determine what each character’s salary would be. To see if they actually could afford their New York lifestyles today. Here’s what they came up with.
Ross Geller, Paleontologist – 2024 Salary: $280,625
Ross would easily be able to afford New York living today, according to JeffBet‘s data. The analysts determined that since Ross lived alone in a two-bedroom apartment for most of the series, his rent would be his biggest expense, at a cost of $57,672 per year. With other expenses, including about $2,096.64 a year in trips to Central Perk, Ross’ total cost of living in 2024 would be about $66,440.64. So, Dr. Geller would have a lot of extra spending money. Even with his more modest salary at the beginning of the series, Ross is easily the richest person on the coffee shop couch.
Rachel Green, Fashion Executive – 2024 Salary: $164,957
While she was the struggling waitress for the first three seasons, Rachel managed to work her way up the business ladder to the second-highest income in the group. JeffBet took into consideration Rachel’s social lifestyle when figuring her cost of living for 2024. Which they determined to be about $39,514.64 per year. That includes splitting the cost of rent on Monica’s apartment. Rachel’s share of that, according to the study, would be about $28,836. If Rachel had stayed a waitress, there’s no way she would have been able to live in New York on her modest income. Unless she was paying Monica in stolen coffee.
Monica Geller, Head Chef – 2024 Salary: $84,449
Monica might have one of the sweetest set-ups of all the Friends characters. She has a well-paying job and a rent-controlled apartment handed down by her grandmother. If she was paying a normal rent in 2024, her cost per year would be about $28,836 for 2024, according to JeffBet. Plus another $5,421 in expenses every year if she were still on the dating scene. But that leaves her plenty of leftover cash on her chef salary.
Chandler Bing, Junior Advertising Copywriter – 2024 Salary: $79,436
Chandler was one of the highest-earning members of the Friends group in the beginning of the series. That was when he was a transponster. I mean, a statistical analysis and data reconfiguration worker. However, at the end of the series he took a job with a lower salary. But it still would be enough today to live comfortably in New York. For Chandler’s 2024 cost of living ($39,372.64), JeffBet considered all the extras. Including his smoking habit and tendency to get caught in financial obligations like a gym membership he doesn’t use.
Joey Tribbiani, Aspiring Actor – 2024 Salary: $25,738
In spite of having the second-lowest salary in his group of friends, Joey has the second-highest cost of living. Mostly due to his dating lifestyle and how often he eats outside of the house, including all that takeout pizza. Joey also isn’t the most financially-savvy character. He showed a propensity for over-spending as soon as he got a big paycheck from Days Of Our Lives. JeffBet‘s data figures Joey’s yearly expenses in 2024 to be $44,428.64, which leaves him in a lot of debt with that annual actor’s salary.
Phoebe Buffay, Masseuse – 2024 Salary: $21,715
Phoebe is last but not least on the list, unless we’re talking about her salary in 2024. According to JeffBet, her cost of living would be about $39,514.64. This considers both her rent on a two-bedroom apartment that she shares with an unseen character, and her costs for going out to movies, coffee and dinners with the rest of the group. But I doubt they included in her salary the free money she gets for finding a thumb in her soda. Considering what Phoebe’s modern salary and cost of living would be, it’s highly doubtful she’d be able to afford living in New York.
Friends did touch on the money issues that Joey and Phoebe (and Rachel in the beginning) had. But they didn’t paint the most accurate picture of what their financial situations would have been at the time. That’s okay, though. We didn’t mind. And Central Perk without all six friends just wouldn’t have been the same.
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