How much rent does New York mayor elect Zohran Mamdani currently pay? All about Gracie Mansion, the 10,000 square foot home he will move into next
Synopsis
New York mayor elect Zohran Mamdani, who built his campaign on housing affordability, is set to leave his rent stabilized Astoria apartment where he pays 2,300 dollars a month to move into the historic 10,000 square foot Gracie Mansion after taking office on January 1. Mamdani says the decision, is driven by security needs. The move comes amid controversy over his subsidized housing and ongoing debate on rent access, affordability and political symbolism.
As New York prepares for a change in leadership on January 1, curiosity has quickly shifted from campaign promises to something far more personal: where the incoming mayor elect Zohran Mamdani will live. The question matters, not just because of its practical significance, but because housing affordability has defined nearly every moment of his political rise.
So how much rent does Mamdani pay now, and how does it compare to the historic mansion he is headed for? The answer offers a striking contrast, and a window into the city’s bitter battle over rent, access and symbolism.
From a rent stabilized apartment to an 18th century mayoral residence
According to reports from AFP, Mamdani currently pays about $2,300 (Rs 2.07 lakh appx.) each month for his rent stabilized one bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens. The neighbourhood is celebrated for its immigrant communities, local food culture and working class character. It is also a world away from the more than 10,000 square foot Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side, the traditional residence of New York mayors since 1942.
Built in 1799 and overlooking the East River, the Federal era home includes five bedrooms and extensive security provisions. Its pastel exterior and antique interior decor have earned it comparisons to a life sized wedding cake.
Although there is no rule requiring mayors to live there, speculation grew during the election about whether Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who campaigned on freezing rent and expanding affordable housing, would leave his modest apartment.
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In a statement cited by AFP, Mamdani said his final decision came reluctantly. “We have called this neighborhood home as our city weathered a devastating pandemic, cruel attacks on immigrants, and years of an affordability crisis. Time and again, this community has shown up for one another. We will miss it all,” he said.
The statement added that the move to Gracie Mansion was driven by security concerns and the need to focus fully on his agenda: “This decision came down to our family’s safety and the importance of dedicating all of my focus on enacting the affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for.”
His family includes his wife, illustrator Rama Duwaji, who will also relocate.
A rental controversy that refuses to quiet down
Mamdani’s housing has been a headline long before he won the mayoral election. The New York Times reported that former governor Andrew Cuomo attacked him for living in a subsidized rent stabilized unit despite earning 142,000 dollars a year as a state assembly member. Cuomo argued the apartment should go to a family in need and proposed what he called “Zohran’s Law”, which would limit rent stabilized apartments to tenants spending at least 30 percent of their income on rent.
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Critics from multiple political sides dismissed the proposal as political theater. Representative Ritchie Torres warned it would “lead to the mass displacement of working class and middle class New Yorkers,” according to the Times report.
Mamdani responded simply by asking how many New Yorkers could find their lives disrupted by a defeated candidate seeking revenge.
A mansion with history, power and rumors of ghosts
Gracie Mansion has housed most New York mayors except billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who preferred his private townhouse. Over the years it has gained both architectural admiration and supernatural intrigue. As reported by BBC, former mayor Eric Adams said in 2022, “There are ghosts in there, man,” while Chirlane McCray, wife of former mayor Bill de Blasio, recalled unexplained door movements and mysterious creaking.
For a mayor who built his campaign on the struggles of everyday renters, moving into one of the most recognizable homes in New York may be viewed as a test of authenticity. But for now, he insists the symbolism does not overshadow the mission.
“While I may no longer live in Astoria, Astoria will always live inside me and the work I do,” he said in the statement carried by BBC.
From a 2,300 dollar apartment to a historic mansion with river views, the contrast is large. The expectations that come with that contrast are even larger.
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