Would the Friends Cast be Able to Afford their Lifestyles Today?

In light of the show’s upcoming 30th anniversary, a new study has revealed whether the Friends characters could realistically afford their lifestyles today.  

The research collected data from Expatistan to determine how much each character’s lifestyle would cost in 2024, including the price of rent. The data focused on non-essential lifestyle items, such as going out for coffee, dining out, and ordering takeaway pizzas in New York. Using data from Glassdoor, the study compared each character’s yearly lifestyle cost against their realistic salaries in 2024 to determine whether the cast’s New York lifestyles would hold up today.  

Ross Geller  

Up first is Ross Geller, the self-deprecating and witty palaeontologist. The study found that Ross’ New York lifestyle would cost him $66,440.64 in 2024. Ross’ main expense was rent, which made him the biggest spender of the group. For the majority of Friends, Ross lived alone in a two-bedroom apartment, which would set the character back by a staggering yearly fee of $57,672 today.  

Daily coffee trips were another expensive fee for Ross. According to the study, going out for coffee every day would realistically cost each character $2,096.64 every year.  

However, according to data from Glassdoor, it’s likely that Ross could manage to afford his expensive lifestyle in 2024. As a palaeontologist in New York, Ross would earn an impressive average salary of $280,625, leaving him with $214,184.36 spare.  

At the time of the show’s premiere in 1994, Ross’ lifestyle would’ve cost him $31,781.03 on a salary of around $134,223.36. According to the study, this would’ve left him with $104,442.33 spare, although this doesn’t factor in Ross’ extra child-support expenses for his son, Ben. Despite being mocked by the rest of the group for his nerdy profession, Ross’ career makes him the wealthiest member of the group in life.  

Joey Tribbiani 

Up next is Joey Tribbiani, the serial flirt and foodie of the group. According to the study, Joey has the second-most expensive lifestyle of the main Friends cast, costing him $44,428.64 yearly in 2024.  

Dating is a huge part of Joey’s life, meaning that going out for dinner roughly five times a week would set the character back by $9,035 in 2024. Ordering takeaway pizza at least twice a week would also cost Joey $2,600 yearly.  

As an aspiring actor, Joey’s average salary in 2024 would be $25,738, meaning that it’s hugely unlikely that he would be able to afford his lifestyle today. According to the study, the character’s expensive lifestyle would place him in debt of $12,647.61. 

At the time of the show’s release, Joey’s lifestyle would cost $21,251.87 on a salary of around $12,311.44. While the character’s salary fluctuates with each acting gig, it’s unlikely that Joey would’ve been able to afford his rent and active social life both in 1994 and in 2024.  

Rachel Green  

Despite cutting herself off from her wealthy father’s income in the opening episode, Rachel Green still lives a rather extravagant lifestyle for the duration of Friends. According to the study, Rachel’s active social life and rent would cost her $39,514.64 to maintain in 2024.  

While splitting the rent with Monica was hugely beneficial for the character’s finances, living in a spacious two-bedroom apartment in the centre of New York would still cost Rachel a yearly fee of $28,836 today. Having such an active social life would also mean catching a cab from time to time, adding up to an annual sum of $884. 

By the end of the series, Rachel has achieved her dream of becoming an executive in the fashion industry, earning her an impressive average salary of $164,957 in 2024. According to the study, Rachel would be left with $125,442.36 spare. 

However, for the first three seasons of Friends, Rachel infamously worked as a waitress in Central Perk, which would’ve earned her an average salary of $20,215 in 2024. While working as a waitress, it’s doubtful that Rachel would’ve been able to afford living in New York, leaving her in debt by $19,299.64.  

In 1994, Rachel would’ve been on a lower salary of $9,669.59 a year while trying to maintain a lifestyle of $18,901.32. This means it would’ve been unrealistic for her to live without her father’s income at the time of the show’s release.  

Monica Geller 

As a head chef in New York, Monica Geller would earn an average salary of $84,449 in 2024. However, the character’s lifestyle would set her back by $39,514.64. 

In the show's earlier seasons, Monica was often seen going out on dates, meaning that dining out roughly three times a week would set the character back by $5,421 annually. However, Monica was certainly at an advantage living in her Grandma’s rent-controlled apartment, which she illegally sublet. If the apartment wasn’t rent-controlled, then it would cost $28,836 a year in 2024.  

However, the character would still be left with $44,934.36 spare due to Monica's high-flying career. Although her brief stint as a waitress during seasons two and three of the show would’ve certainly placed Monica in financial trouble. During these seasons, Monica would’ve been on an average salary of $20,215, leaving her in debt by $24,719.36.  

Phoebe Buffay  

Phoebe Buffay has various jobs throughout the show, but the lovable misfit predominantly works as a masseuse while busking on the side. Phoebe would earn an average salary of $21,715 from these two careers in 2024. However, her expensive lifestyle would set her back by $39,514.64.  

One of Phoebe’s main expenses is rent, which would cost Phoebe $28,836 a year if she was indeed splitting the cost with her off-screen roommate, Denise. Regularly going out to the movies with the rest of the gang would also add up to a fee of $455 a year.  

It’s doubtful that Phoebe could afford to live in New York in 2024 as she would be in debt by a staggering $17,799.64. In 1994, Phoebe’s lifestyle would’ve cost her $18,901.32 on a salary of around $10,387.09, making her life in New York financially unattainable.  

Chandler Bing  

Towards the end of the series, Chandler Bing makes the courageous decision to switch careers to become a junior advertising copywriter. While this position was lower paid than the character’s previous role, Chandler would still earn an average salary of $79,436 in 2024. However, his lifestyle would cost Chandler a yearly fee of $39,372.64.  

Smoking was one of Chandler’s vices in the earlier seasons of Friends – a habit that would now cost the character $1,768 a year. Despite never once going to the gym, Chandler still found himself paying for a monthly membership due to his romantic interest in one of the women there. In 2024, this New York gym membership would add up to a yearly cost of $1,704.  

Despite these extra costs, Chandler could comfortably afford his lifestyle with $40,063.36 left over. In 1994, Chandler’s lifestyle would’ve cost him $18,833.40. Still, his previous job as a statistical analysis and data reconfiguration worker would’ve earned him an average salary of $63,273.00, making him one of the wealthiest characters in Friends.