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Moving to New York City: A Guide

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New York City. A place almost everyone dreams of living at least once in their life. With ample city parks, some of the world’s best restaurants, and a neighborhood for everyone, NYC is one incredible place to live. Think you’re ready for it? Before you buy your plane ticket, check out our moving guide to New York and get to know your future home.

5 things to know before moving to New York City

  1. Cost of living
  2. Boroughs and neighborhoods
  3. Things to do
  4. Transportation
  5. Apartment hunting 101

1. Cost of living

There’s a lot to consider when moving to NYC; finances being one of the most important considerations. As you plan your move you’ll want to assess the cost of living. Here are the top cost of living categories to consider in your budget.

  • Rent prices: The average cost to rent a 1-bedroom Apartment is $3,930 and a 2-bedroom is $4,400. As of August 2022, these rates make NYC the priciest city in the nation to live.
  • Utilities: The average cost of utilities for a 915-square-foot apartment is $164.72, and internet services range from $65-$100.
  • Transportation: Most residents of New York use the extensive public transportation system. Monthly transit passes, or “MetroCards,” will cost $127 for adults. Weekly Metrocards cost $33.
  • Food costs: New Yorkers spend roughly 12.9% of their household budget on food, similar to the national average. Of this food budget, 61.8% is spent on meals at home, and 38.1% is spent on dining out.

2. New York boroughs and neighborhoods

NYC is composed of 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.

Manhattan is the borough most non-residents recall to when they think of “New York City.”

Queens, just east of Manhattan, is the largest borough in New York City and the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. Brooklyn, southeast of Manhattan, is often recognized as the setting of many major movies, and home to historical landmarks such as Coney Island. North of Manhattan is the Bronx, and south is Staten Island—accessible to Brooklyn and New Jersey by car, or Manhattan by ferry.

Below are a few of the popular neighborhoods in some of these New York boroughs.

  • Hell’s Kitchen: Energetic and diverse, this neighborhood offers residents plentiful budget-friendly restaurants, nearly a dozen gay bars, and easy access to the theaters on Broadway. It’s unpretentious, stays true to its roots, and has historically been a refuge for actors and artists. Catch a comedy show at Upright Citizens Brigade or an Off Broadway show at Playwright Horizons, just two of the many theaters in this hood.
  • Murray Hill: The younger crowds love this neighborhood for its raucous nightlife scene, ample restaurants, and convenient walking distance to other hoods. It’s a popular spot for recent grads in their early 20s, and the hip cafes and late-night food and drink spots reflect that. Live here and walk to work in Midtown, take a stroll through Times Square, or hop on the subway at Grand Central-42nd Street and explore the rest of the city.
  • Greenwich Village: Going to NYU? This is your hood. Greenwich Village, nestled between East and West Village, is home to NYU, the historic and LGBT-friendly Stonewall Inn, and some of the best eats in the city. You’ll encounter plenty of college students on MacDougal Street on any given night, and even more of them in the iconic Washington Square Park during the day.
  • Upper East Side: If you’re an art-enthusiast, the Upper East Side is where it’s at. Check out Museum Mile which includes places like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Shop at high-end boutiques and department stores, stroll through nearby Central Park, and enjoy the homey vibe of this residential neighborhood.
  • Brooklyn: Williamsburg, and the neighboring communities of Greenpoint and Bushwick, are a popular areas in the borough, with residents ranging from artists and finance employees to indie musicians and young families. DUMBO, which stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”, is known for its view of the city skyline and thriving small business community. Park Slope and Prospect Heights are popular areas for families, due to their proximity to the beautiful Prospect Park.
  • Queens: As the most ethnically diverse borough, Queens is ripe with incredible food joints, gorgeous parks, and world-class art institutions. Astoria is a unique mixture of young professionals, incredible Greek food, longtime residents, and a thriving nightlife. Willets Point hosts Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, and Long Island City boasts both the Socrates Sculpture Garden and MOMA PS1.

3. Things to do when you arrive in New York

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NYC has so many incredible attractions and things to do that you might want to make a bucket list.

For starters, head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s top museums, in the Upper East Side. When you’re done, you can take a stroll through Central Park, which is just behind the museum.

Play tourist for a day and take the ferry to Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty. The same goes for Katz’ Delicatessen in the Lower East Side—it’s touristy, but it’s worth it.

While you’re hanging around Lower Manhattan, you could stop at The Tenement Museum, an institution that has preserved a classic Lower East Side tenement apartment building and offers tours that highlight the history and reality of immigration in New York. For dinner, you can wander through nearby Chinatown and grab some of the best dim sum you’ve ever had.

Further uptown, and on the west side of Manhattan, you can walk the High Line, an elevated space with a view of the Manhattan River and the city skyline. It’s filled with greenery, art installations, benches, and curving walkways, so bring a picnic and enjoy this public park.

In the outer boroughs, spend the day at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, head to the Bronx for a day at the zoo and get lunch on Arthur Avenue—sometimes referred to as “the real little Italy,” or get a brat at the Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria before riding the “International Express” 7 train through the heart of Queens to catch a Mets game at Citifield.

These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg; New York offers an endless list of cultural and gastronomic activities within each of the five boroughs.

4. Transportation: How to get around New York

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There’s a reason NYC has the largest public transportation fleet in the world; residents here rely on the MTA—a bus and subway system that spans much of the city—to get around. You should consider getting a monthly pass unless you want to buy a ticket every time you ride.

Unlimited monthly MetroCards cost $127 a month, and allow you unlimited rides on all subways and buses. The subway is made up of eighteen lines, each with its own letter or number, and they are grouped by color. Numbers and letters with the same color run on similar tracks, or have shared routes, with a few different stops. For example, the B & D lines are both orange. The B train makes local stops in Manhattan, while the D train is the express. Some express trains become local at night or on weekends. It may take some time, but you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. You can get maps and all information you need on the MTA’s website.

Driving is not for the faint of heart, so we recommend a cab or use a ride app if you’re not feeling the public transit options. Around 45% of New Yorkers owned a car in 2018, and while there might be an increase in car ownership since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, car ownership varies greatly depending on the borough in which you live.

If you do bring a car, you’ll want to pay close attention to the unique street parking rules (the entire city is a designated Tow-Away Zone). The cost of monthly garage parking is steep, at an average of $570 a month.

5. Apartment hunting in NYC

Apartment hunting in New York City is unlike any other. Competition is stiff, inventory is in demand, and the prices are high. Before you move to the city you should familiarize yourself with a few aspects of apartment hunting that are well known to Big Apple residents.

  • Broker fees: Broker fees are extremely common in New York City. Broker only apartments will require you to use a broker to secure the available apartment. No broker = no deal. Broker fees typically cost around 15% of the annual rent for the unit. Some brokers will find available apartments for you and can help take some of the stress off of the apartment hunting process, especially if you’re moving from another state. However, if you go this route, be sure to factor the extra cost into your budget. Brokers are not always required and you can filter your searches to only include “no broker” apartments.
  • Amenities: Building and in-unit amenities should be a major consideration during your apartment search, especially when living in New York City. An in-unit washer and dryer in NYC is practically worth its weight in gold. While you may have a higher rent payment for such a luxury, you won’t have to lug your laundry to the corner laundromat, and that convenience pays for itself. Other amenities that will make your NYC life more comfortable include air conditioning, private outdoor spaces, and fitness centers.
  • Types of NYC apartments – Familiarize yourself with the various types of apartments you’ll encounter during your search. Some of these are unique to NYC, others you may already know. Walk-up, studio, loft, and railroad style apartments are all common apartment types you’ll find in the city. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of each so you can narrow your search based on your needs and budget.
  • Paperwork and deposits – Be prepared to fill out a hefty application when applying for an apartment in NYC. Because competition is stiff you’ll want to come prepared with your supplementary information including references, tax and bank statements, and proof of employment. Some NYC landlords will require that your annual income be 40 times the monthly rent cost, meaning that if the rent is $4,000 a month you need to show a single or combined yearly income of $160,000. That’s not doable for most renters, which is when a co-signer or guarantor can come in. Even with a co-signer you should plan to save a decent amount before you make the move to accommodate for your security deposit, first and last months rent, and utility set up.

Tips for moving to New York: The “do’s” and “don’ts”

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  • Do: Bring your heavy coat. Not only is New York known for its bone-chilling winter temperatures, it also averages a few feet of snow (and sometimes a blizzard or two!) annually.
  • Don’t: Take it personally. New Yorkers may seem brash at first, but in a city where every rapid minute is valued, you’ll quickly come to understand their straight-forward nature. They walk fast, talk fast, and get straight to the point.
  • Don’t: Limit yourself to Manhattan. Each of the boroughs has wonderful neighborhoods with great housing options.
  • Do: Get out of your hood and explore other areas. The city is full of cultural diversity, and each neighborhood is different.
  • Do: Consider your commute to work before renting an apartment. Are you near a subway station? A bus stop? And since the city relies on public transit, you’ll want to add on additional time to your expected commute in case the trains are delayed.
  • Don’t: Miss NYC’s annual Pride festival. Every June the city celebrates the LGBT community with a spectacular parade, performances, and activities.
  • Do: Carefully determine your budget. Factor in your utilities and really consider how much you need to save and and still explore your new home. The cost of rent in New York isn’t cheap, and it can be hard to save money without careful budgeting.
  • Don’t: Forget to frequent your local bodega. Bodegas are an integral part of a New Yorker’s routine; they’ll be your go-to spot for coffee, bagels, and last-minute groceries or necessities.
  • Do: Sign up for the MTA’s texts or email alerts if you plan to ride the trains frequently. You’ll receive updates on the status of your route in case there are issues or delays.
  • Don’t: Refer to the train lines by their color. Use the letter or number, which is what most New Yorkers use when talking about the subway.

The possibilities in New York are endless. From world-class museums and theaters to plentiful outdoor spaces and a thriving restaurant scene, this city is one-of-a-kind.

It’s important to consider which neighborhood you want to live in, how close you want to be to public transportation, and how much you’re willing to spend on your apartment. Once you’ve figured out the basics, you’ll be ready to take on this action-packed city.

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The post Moving to New York City: A Guide appeared first on The Zumper Blog.



This post first appeared on The Zumper Blog | Rental Market Trends, Real Estat, please read the originial post: here

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