Any New Yorker will tell you that their city is the best in the world, and that it has the highest standards of entertainment, cuisine, and quality of life. However, it takes some getting used to, particularly if you’ve never been or if you come from a smaller town or city. Therefore, we’ve put up a list of some of the most crucial things you should know about living in the City That Never Sleeps before you arrive, for anyone moving to New York City (or even just considering it). Remember that moving can be costly, so you might want to talk to a financial counselor who can help you properly arrange your money.
1. Is New York City Really That Pricey?
Because living in New York City is so expensive, many residents share living quarters. Housing alone isn’t the only issue. Nearly all of your costs will be higher in NYC. This covers alcoholic beverages, entertainment, and groceries. When you move here, you may anticipate a significant increase in your budget, so make sure you have a plan in place for how you’ll manage it.
2. To obtain an apartment, you might need to pay a broker’s fee.
The rental market in New York might be irrational at times or constantly. A “broker’s fee,” which often amounts to 10%–15% of the annual rent, is required to lease an apartment. There are free flats available, but the competition is severe (much more so than it currently is for conventional apartments).
Use a service or website that connects you with others looking for a roommate to avoid having to be the first person to lease an empty apartment as a means to avoid paying broker’s fees. Despite the fact that it may seem strange to people from other parts of the country, moving in with a stranger is rather normal in New York City since it occasionally becomes necessary.
3. Hire a Storage Unit or Get Rid of Some of Your Possessions
If you are used to larger residences in the south or the midwest, New York apartments can seem much smaller. You probably won’t have room for all of your possessions unless you’re already a pro at minimalism. Reduce your goods significantly, or factor the expense of hiring a storage facility into your monthly spending plan. Many people think they can live without anything if they don’t need it in their flat.
4. Taxes in NYC are among the highest in the country.
Residents of New York local are required to pay the federal income tax, the state income tax, and the local income tax. The tax rate you pay may be greater than 50%, depending on your income. Although New York property tax rates are actually relatively affordable (if you own a home), the sales tax in NYC is quite high at 8.875%.
Use our New York tax calculator to estimate your income taxes in NYC.
5. Almost nobody owns a car.
As stated by the U.S. According to the census, 56% of New York households don’t own a car, which might help families save money. In general, it might be challenging to own a car in New York. Free parking is a rare animal in many places, including the majority of Manhattan and the denser regions of the other four boroughs. In the nights, it is usual to spend 30 minutes or more seeking for a spot.
Even if you do discover one, you probably can’t leave it there for very long. You must move your car to the opposite side of the street once or twice per week if you park on the side of the road from the street cleaners. Next, move it back a few days later. Residents find this to be quite bothersome in addition to being inconvenient. Without a car, though, you may avoid paying for insurance, a car loan, gas, and maintenance, which can offset the additional expenditures you’ll already be spending.
6. Knowing the subway map is useful.
The good news is that New York is one of the few American cities where getting around without a car is not too difficult. It has a score of 88 on walkscore.com, making it the most walkable city in the nation. Additionally, taxis are readily available anywhere if you don’t mind paying a fee.
The city also has a sizable and (relatively) effective transit system. The subway system is undoubtedly the centerpiece. We advise either downloading the system map to your phone or obtaining a paper copy to keep in your pocket because it can be a little perplexing at first. The cost of public transportation also increases slightly.
7. It Has Beaches in New York
If you reside in NYC, you don’t have to travel to the Jersey Shore to construct a sandcastle. Instead, you may ride the subway to locations like Coney Island or Rockaway Beach. There are other, more scenic options, although these are frequently quite crowded. The extra effort required to reach places like Fort Tilden Beach might be worthwhile. Alternately, venture further afield on Long Island to a location like Robert Moses State Park. You can even lose track of the city for a while.
8. Everyone Walks Very Quickly
Find a park if you wish to take a leisurely stroll. The sidewalks in New York City are the fast lane, and if you feel like someone is blocking your path or pushing you forward, they won’t apologize. In fact, a lot of people walk so quickly that they simply cross a side street as quickly as they can regardless of what the automobiles are doing, disregarding the signals that indicate when they should do so.
9. Blocks Are Shorter Than Avenues
In New York, particularly in Manhattan, city blocks are rectangles rather than squares. 20 of the 250-foot-distance east-west streets make up one mile. A typical avenue is 750 feet long, or roughly three times as long as a typical block, and runs north-south. So, even though it sounds closer than it is, if someone claims they are four avenues over, they are actually more than half a mile away!
10. Five Boroughs Exist.
Staten Island, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Each is a miniature city with distinct neighborhoods. By area, Queens is the biggest. Brooklyn has the most residents overall. Manhattan has the highest price. The Bronx is where the Yankees play. From Manhattan, Staten Island can only be reached by boat; however, Brooklyn residents can drive there by traversing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
There is much to learn about each country’s culture.
11. Almost everywhere takes a long time to reach.
In New York, distances can be deceiving. Even taking the train, getting between two neighborhoods that appear to be near to one another on a map can take more than an hour. Give yourself more time than you think you need to reach where you’re going because delays usually occur unless you’re walking.
12. New Yorkers Drive Roughly
Keep your eyes peeled whether you’re driving along Madison Avenue or crossing a side street in Brooklyn. New York drivers are notorious for disobeying speed restrictions, stop signs, and common decency. Never take the initiative to move first. Additionally, expect a lot of honking. Horns are very popular in New York (you get used to this gradually).
13. There Are Peaceful, Residential Areas
Most people associate “New York City” with Manhattan and its taxis, traffic, and crowds. Noise. Though not all of the city is like this. There are communities farther from the city center that have homes, driveways, and even lawns. Think of Little Neck, Queens, for instance.
14. It pours when it rains
As opposed to Boston or Chicago, New York isn’t quite as chilly, gloomy, or hot as Seattle or Houston. But one part of its climate that can surprise some newbies is the rain. A majority of the rain that falls in NYC is in the form of torrential downpours. Without an umbrella, you will get soaked. Infrequently, there will also be a significant snowstorm, which will likely cause the city to be closed for several hours or perhaps days.
15. Good Shoes Must Be Worn
New Yorkers are avid walkers. a subway station. toward the store. toward the park. If you don’t have a good pair of sneakers, this could be hard on your feet. You also don’t want to put your feet in anything subpar because of the constant rain, the slush in the winter, and the general ugliness of the streets.
16. Exploring Is Hard Work, But It’s Payoff
You might not feel like navigating the city’s streets or metro system after a particularly demanding week. Try it anyhow. Every time you go out, you are sure to see something new and interesting. It’s a terrific way to get to know the layout of the city.
17. You’ll Have a New York Moment at Some Point
The coolest thing about relocating to New York is this. You’ll be able to tell when it happens, even though what it means to you may be completely different from what it means to someone else.
Tips For Moving Planning
It’s a good idea to consider how your budget may alter if you’re moving to New York City. A financial advisor can assist you in navigating significant life transitions, such as a move, or just in identifying and achieving your overall financial goals. Finding a competent financial advisor need not be difficult. Using the free service provided by SmartAsset, which connects you with up to three local financial advisors, you can speak with your advisor matches in-person to determine which one is best for you. When you’re prepared, start looking for a financial counselor right away.
- Your income can wind up looking very different from what it does today if you change jobs. To estimate your new take-home salary, try using our New York paycheck calculator. This will enable you to make a budget that is more precise.
- You should research whether renting or buying is preferable before deciding where in the city you’ll call home.
- Before relocating to New York, how much money should you have?
- Additionally, you should account for costs like the deposit, utilities, and moving fees. Financial counselor Luke Demaria of Client Focused Advisors advocates saving up at least four months’ worth of expenses before relocating to New York.
Is relocating to NYC a wise idea?
You might decide that it’s still worthwhile to live in a city with a higher cost of living depending on your lifestyle preferences and financial constraints (or lack thereof). Better work possibilities, a wider selection of public and private schools, or simpler public transportation systems are a few factors.
Is it still a good idea to live in New York?
Living in New York City is safe. You might be surprised to learn that, contrary to popular belief, living in New York City is not dangerous. Nobody can be held responsible for believing that life in New York City might be perilous. Being the most populous city in America with 8.4 million citizens, things are bound to happen.
