Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Devonte Duncan, 27, lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as a software engineer at a tech company, earning $159,000 a year. After reaching a six-figure salary, his spending quickly caught up with his income and led him into debt.
Now, Devonte takes a much more deliberate approach to his finances, balancing stricter budgeting with a lifestyle that still allows him to enjoy his money.
In this episode of Cost of Living, Devonte breaks down exactly how he earns, spends, budgets, and invests while living in one of the most expensive cities in the US.
For more from Devonte:
youtube.com/@doseofdevy
Read "I dropped out of college and now earn $159,000 as a software engineer. Lifestyle creep left me $30,000 in debt": bit.ly/4giOlde
And "A 27-year-old New Yorker made $130,000 from 9 income streams. She says the hustle nearly burned her out": bit.ly/3SxDl2e
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - Income & Work
01:28 - Housing & Utilities
09:35 - Transportation
12:01 - Food & Groceries
16:10 - Lifestyle & Leisure
19:12 - Health & Insurance
19:56 - Education
21:40 - Debt, Savings & Investments
25:48 - City-Specific Costs & Quirks
27:29 - Credits
------------------------------------------------------
#softwareengineer #salary #costoflivingusa #expensivecities #costofliving
WATCH MORE:
Breaking Down My $306,500 Salary In San Francisco
youtu.be/7VwEOyAcvJM
The Fight To Make Expensive Stadium Food Illegal
youtu.be/j6G91ryji5s
9 Ways Everyday Life Is Becoming More Expensive
youtu.be/wjkeJ6sEYfc
Business Insider is a global newsroom covering business, technology, innovation, and the economy.
Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: businessinsider.com/?utm_source=youtube
Sign up for our newsletters: businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter?utm_source=youtube
Find Business Insider on Facebook: facebook.com/businessinsider
... on Instagram: instagram.com/businessinsider
... on X: https://x.com/BusinessInsider
... on TikTok: tiktok.com/@businessinsider
Breaking Down My $159,000 Salary In Brooklyn, New York | Cost Of Living | Business Insider
Devonte Duncan, 27, lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as a software engineer at a tech company, earning $159,000 a year. After reaching a six-figure salary, his spending quickly caught up with his income and led him into debt.
Now, Devonte takes a much more deliberate approach to his finances, balancing stricter budgeting with a lifestyle that still allows him to enjoy his money.
In this episode of Cost of Living, Devonte breaks down exactly how he earns, spends, budgets, and invests while living in one of the most expensive cities in the US.
For more from Devonte:
youtube.com/@doseofdevy
Read "I dropped out of college and now earn $159,000 as a software engineer. Lifestyle creep left me $30,000 in debt": bit.ly/4giOlde
And "A 27-year-old New Yorker made $130,000 from 9 income streams. She says the hustle nearly burned her out": bit.ly/3SxDl2e
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - Income & Work
01:28 - Housing & Utilities
09:35 - Transportation
12:01 - Food & Groceries
16:10 - Lifestyle & Leisure
19:12 - Health & Insurance
19:56 - Education
21:40 - Debt, Savings & Investments
25:48 - City-Specific Costs & Quirks
27:29 - Credits
------------------------------------------------------
#softwareengineer #salary #costoflivingusa #expensivecities #costofliving
WATCH MORE:
Breaking Down My $306,500 Salary In San Francisco
youtu.be/7VwEOyAcvJM
The Fight To Make Expensive Stadium Food Illegal
youtu.be/j6G91ryji5s
9 Ways Everyday Life Is Becoming More Expensive
youtu.be/wjkeJ6sEYfc
Business Insider is a global newsroom covering business, technology, innovation, and the economy.
Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: businessinsider.com/?utm_source=youtube
Sign up for our newsletters: businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter?utm_source=youtube
Find Business Insider on Facebook: facebook.com/businessinsider
... on Instagram: instagram.com/businessinsider
... on X: https://x.com/BusinessInsider
... on TikTok: tiktok.com/@businessinsider
Breaking Down My $159,000 Salary In Brooklyn, New York | Cost Of Living | Business Insider
