How did the ‘Friends’ characters afford to live in 1990s New York?

friendship fans often debate how the characters afforded such spacious apartments in 1990s New York — but the script was more realistic than people might think.

While it may seem impossible that Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Phoebe Buffay-Hannigan (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) and Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) could can afford New York apartments given their professions and lifestyles, a closer look offers some plausible explanations.

Newsweek broke down the approximate salaries each character would have earned in the 1990s, typical rent prices in Greenwich Village at the time, and details from the show that made their living situations more feasible.

Each character’s living situation

Monica and Rachel’s apartment

Monica’s large apartment in Greenwich Village was affordable thanks to the lease she inherited from her grandmother, which kept the rent “ridiculously low.” In the 1990s, rent-controlled apartments in the Village could cost as much as $300-$500 a month, allowing Monica and Rachel to live there despite their modest incomes. By splitting the rent, the financial burden was manageable, even when Rachel worked as a low-paid waitress or was unemployed.

Chandler and Joey’s apartment

Chandler and Joey lived in a smaller unit across from Monica and Rachel. Chandler’s steady income as a corporate executive allowed him to cover most of his expenses, especially when Joey’s gigs were inconsistent. Chandler probably made enough to afford the rent comfortably, and having Joey as a roommate helped keep costs down, even though Chandler shouldered most of the financial burden.

Phoebe’s apartment

Phoebe lived alone in a quaint apartment, getting by on her modest income as a part-time massage therapist and musician. Her rent was likely kept low by rent stabilization, which, while less strict than rent control, made housing affordable in the 1990s. Phoebe’s frugal lifestyle allowed her to live comfortably on her modest earnings .

Ross’ apartment

Ross’s more stable income made his living situation plausible. As a paleontologist earning around $40,000 to $60,000, and later as a professor at NYU earning between $50,000 and $75,000, Ross could afford a more modest apartment. His rent was probably around $1,500 – $2,500 a month, which made it manageable given his steady paycheck.

Wages in the 1990s

Monica Geller (Chief):

• Novice Chef: Monica probably made around $25,000 – $35,000 annually as a rookie chef.
• Later in the series: As head chef, her salary would have increased to $50,000-$70,000 per year.

Rachel Green (Waitress and Fashion Buyer):

• Waitress: As a waitress, Rachel’s annual income would have been around $15,000 – $20,000, including tips.
• Fashion Industry: Once she moved into fashion, her salary ranged from $30,000 to $60,000 a year, depending on her role and experience.

Joey Tribbiani (Soap opera actor):

• Struggling Actor: At the start of the series, Joey earned around $500-$1,000 per day for small roles.
• The star of the soap opera: In his prime, as Dr. Drake Ramoray Days of our livesJoey could have earned $1,000-$2,000 per episode, potentially bringing in $100,000-$150,000 per year.

Chandler Bing (Director of Statistical Analysis):

• Corporate salary: Chandler’s corporate job probably paid $50,000–$100,000 a year, depending on his promotions.
• Skip to advertising: Later in the series, Chandler moved into advertising, likely taking a pay cut at first, with entry-level salaries in the late 1990s ranging from $35,000 to $50,000 per year. As he gained experience and advanced, his salary could have increased to $60,000-$80,000 or more, depending on his role and performance.

Phoebe Buffay (massage therapist):

• The massage therapist: As an independent massage therapist, Phoebe’s annual income probably ranged from $25,000 to $40,000 depending on her client base.
• Musician: Phoebe’s side gig as a musician, playing at Central Perk and local venues, earned her probably $50-$100 per show. In a year’s time, this could have added several thousand dollars to her income

Rental prices in Greenwich Village

In the 1990s, Greenwich Village was already an expensive neighborhood, but rent control and stabilization helped residents like Monica and Phoebe afford their homes.

• Studio apartments: Market-rate studios cost between $1,000 and $1,500 per month.
• One bedroom apartments: ranged from $1,500 to $2,500 per month, depending on location.
• Two bedroom apartments: The market price for a two-bedroom like Monica’s was $2,500–$3,500+ per month, but her rent-controlled unit was much cheaper, at $300–$500.
• Rent control and stabilization: This kept prices lower than market rate, explaining how Monica could afford such a large apartment.

Could they really afford it?

Although the characters’ living situations seem unrealistic, explanations such as rent control, cost-sharing with roommates, and Chandler’s high salary make their homes plausible for 1990s New York, despite the Village’s rising rents.