From Eloise at the Plaza to West Side Story, there are countless movies that take place in the Big Apple. These cinematic masterpieces showcase brick buildings, people-filled sidewalks, and taxi cabs galore.
And in some cases, what you see on the screen isn’t real life, but in this case, these details are but a glimpse into what New York City has to offer. It’s an East Coast metropolis with more bookstores, coffee shops, antique stores, and outdoor parks than meets the eye.
If you’re looking to move to a city where boredom is out of the question, NYC meets that prerequisite. Who knows? You could end up being one of the 8,089,689 people who live in New York City, but before you pack your bags, explore this deep-dive into what moving to New York State is really like.
How Much Money Do You Need To Move to NYC?
PayScale reports that the cost of living in New York City is 128% more expensive than the national average. While utilities are only 3% higher in NYC than in other parts of the United States, housing costs are a whopping 385% greater in New York City, while groceries are about 35% more costly.
Here are more details about the cost of living in New York:
- Median home price: $2,184,673
- Median monthly rent: $6,642
- Gas: $3.93 per gallon
- Phone service: $196.31 per month
- Utilities: $182.48 per month
To see how the cost of living in your current city compares to the COL in NYC, make use of PayScale’s Cost of Living Calculator. This data can help you understand if you currently make enough per year to afford life in New York–or if you should increase your income prior to moving.
According to the Outpost Club, if you are moving to New York City alone, you should strive to make at least $75,000 per year. After taxes, this would leave you with approximately $61,272 as your take-home pay, giving you a little over $5,000 per month to put toward expenses. If you’d rather live more comfortably, aim for a salary of $90,000 or more.
What NYC Neighborhood Should You Live In?
NYC is made up of five boroughs. When choosing a neighborhood in New York City, consider our top picks.
Get to Know Each NYC Borough
Before you narrow down your options based on neighborhood, it helps to decide on a borough to live in first. For a thorough exploration of the differences between all of the city’s boroughs, check out Capture the Atlas’ Guide to NYC.
In short, Staten Island is where you’ll find single-family homes and a more suburban vibe than the other boroughs. Manhattan — namely the Upper East Side and Wall Street — attracts more tourists than other boroughs, especially because it’s home to Times Square and Central Park, so it’s likely to be the busiest of the five options.
While there is still a lot to see and do in Brooklyn, this borough is calmer and quieter than Manhattan, making it ideal for couples, families, and professionals. If you want to immerse yourself in culture, the Bronx is worth exploring, especially because of its famous landmarks and diverse communities.
Last but not least, the largest borough based on population is Queens. It is not only situated between Manhattan and the Bronx, but it’s also where you’ll find a number of adventure-filled attractions:
Account for Your Commute
When you move to New York, will you need to commute for work? If so, do you plan to rely on public transportation, or are you going to have your car with you? These are important questions to ask because the distance from your home to your workplace should influence where you decide to live.
Keep in mind that the average one-way commute time for New Yorkers in NYC is about 33.4 minutes. With this information from Zippia in mind, that means many NYC residents spend approximately 67 minutes commuting every day.
Consider this data when deciding on your next neighborhood. Also, for those who will need to take public modes of transportation, familiarize yourself with your options:
Finding an Apartment in NYC
Here’s everything to know about finding your new home in NYC.
Should You Live Alone or With Roommates?
When searching for a place to live in New York City, consider if you want to live alone or with roommates. If you choose to live alone, keep in mind that you and you alone will be responsible for paying the full monthly rent, including upfront costs like the security deposit and other fees associated with moving into the unit.
For those who want to share their living space with a roommate or two, you might feel a lot of pressure when it comes to finding a compatible roommate. Thankfully, there are platforms that can help you vet other people and see if you can comfortably live together:
How Brokerage Fees Work With NYC Apartments
Historically, NYC renters have had to factor in brokerage fees when apartment hunting. An apartment with a broker’s fee attached means you’ll have to pay a broker a commission to scope out an apartment in your budget. Generally speaking, a broker will charge the tenant anywhere from 12% to 15% of your annual rent as a fee for their services, known as a finder’s fee.
No-fee apartments in NYC exist, but you, as the tenant, will have to take on more legwork in the apartment-hunting process. You’ll need to search through online listings and set up your appointments with landlords.
If you don’t want to pay a broker, use these sites to narrow down your NYC apartment search:
Apply to the Your Top-Pick Apartment Units
Once you choose a borough, select a neighborhood, and identify apartments that meet your preferences, it’s time to start applying to the units.
Moving to NYC Checklist
Use this checklist to prepare for your move to New York City.
Step #1: Downsize and Declutter Your Belongings
Start by ditching any belongings that you no longer want or need. Since NYC apartments are notoriously small and shipping or moving personal items can be expensive, being honest with yourself about what you can part with will make your move that much easier.
Step #2: Make Sure Your Furniture Will Fit Inside of Your New Apartment
Not many situations sound more frustrating than trying to squeeze a couch through a doorway, only to realize that the couch is too wide to push inside. To eliminate the possibility of scenarios like this and others from happening, calculate the square footage of your new NYC unit. Then, measure the length, height, and width of any furniture you plan to take to ensure you have room for these pieces.
Step #3: Decide on How You’ll Transport Your Belongings
Decide how you’ll get your belongings to New York. Be aware that many movers and container moving companies don’t operate in the city because it’s so difficult to park for loading and unloading.
With this in mind, take your new apartment’s location into account before booking movers. In many cases, it’s more affordable and convenient to pare down your belongings and ship everything
Step #4: Officially Change Your Address
It’s important that you officially change your address once you sign a lease in New York City. To update your address in New York, start by notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles. Then, reach out to the United States Postal Service by following the steps on the USPS online form.
Step #5: Set up Your Utilities Ahead of Time
To ensure a smooth transition when moving to New York City, consider setting up accounts with utility companies ahead of time.
There are a few utility service providers in NYC:
If you are unsure which company you need to set up a utility service account with, contact your landlord or apartment management company for clarification.
Step #6: Contact Moving Companies and Compare Rates
Unless your plan is to move all of your belongings by yourself via methods like U-Haul, you will need to contact moving companies that can help you transport your belongings to New York. It’s recommended that you schedule movers at least two months before you plan to relocate to NYC.
Online platforms like Angi and TaskRabbit can help you find moving assistance for both local and long-distance moves. You can also contact some of the more popular moving companies directly:
- United Van LinesUnited Van Lines
- Atlas Van LinesAtlas Van Lines
- Two Men and a TruckTwo Men and a Truck
- MayflowerMayflower
- Allied Van LinesAllied Van Lines
In Summary
Once you’re all settled into your NYC apartment, you might find yourself reconsidering what you brought with you. If you determine that you have too many belongings for the available space, try not to make rash decisions by downsizing immediately or tossing any of your valuables.
Instead, why not reserve a storage unit where you can house excess items until you decide how to proceed? With a peer-to-peer self storage solution like Neighbor, you can connect with local storage options where you can store belongings that don’t fit inside your apartment.
This is an especially viable option for those moving to NYC for college or people who are pursuing a new professional opportunity. You’ll likely discover that not all apartments in NYC offer ample space for your furniture, electronics, or other belongings, so finding high-quality external storage space is essential. Let Neighbor help!
