Some days, in my wildest dreams, I DREAM of living in New York City! The Big Apple… The city that never sleeps! What dreams are made of…
And recently I thought to myself… why not look into what it would actually take to LIVE in New York City. NOW… I know its not as simple as 1, 2, 3 to up and move to NYC from most places in the world and most of us, myself included, dont have the luxury of having the kind of money you need. BUT for a second, lets look into it.
Lets dream the dream!
This investigation has been done from my point of view, as a English citizen living in the UK. OF COURSE, if you are reading this from the USA then fantastic! You’ve already got a big advantage compared to non US folk. Also just a little note to say that all the information in this piece was accurate at the time of posting.
DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE
NYC has five boroughs — the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island — each of them with dozens of neighborhoods lending their own local flavour.
The Bronx is one of the most soulful and exciting boroughs of New York City. With easy access to Manhattan, the Bronx is a great option for those who choose to commute to the city every day. Further to that, the Bronx has a rich history. Known as the birthplace of Hip-Hop, the borough is brimming with music, art and culture. These days, The Bronx is gaining more attention. In 2017, the New York Times even listed the South Bronx as one of the top 52 places to visit!
Of New York City’s five boroughs, Brooklyn is the largest (69.5 square miles) and most populous. In fact, if Brooklyn were its own city—as it once was until the late 1800s—it would be the third-largest city in the U.S. with over 2.5 million residents, second to Los Angeles and Chicago. It’s no wonder that Brooklyn is so iconic.
If you’re ready to take on a bold new challenge, living in Manhattan could be the perfect choice to shake things up. It’s no secret that living in Manhattan is expensive. Living in Manhattan costs 50% more than the American average. Residents can expect to pay “New York City prices” on just about everything, from groceries, to utilities and rent, to personal services. No matter your background, language, financial status, or family size, there is a place in Manhattan for you. Manhattan is home to the elites of the Upper East Side, post grads who stayed in town after graduating from NYU, young professionals starting their careers and the CEOs that run Wall Street and everything in between.
Queens is a fantastic place for young professionals and families who want to be near the action of the Manhattan, without being in the middle of it! Choosing to live in Queens gives you all the benefits of Manhattan, with a lower price tag and more trees. The borough offers some amazing food and even nightlife. Depending on which area of Queens you live in, you’re also relatively close to Midtown so you can easily commute to work. So before you decide to make a life in Manhattan, you might want to look into Queens.
If you’re looking for access to New York experiences, but with more
breathing room, Staten Island might be the right place for you. Check
out our guide to this suburban borough’s neighborhoods to find the
right fit for you.
Living in Staten Island is unique among New York borough experiences. While the priciest areas like Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn might have you bunking up in a small studio, in Staten Island you’re likely to find more affordable rentals, as well as single family homes with yards and even pools.
Want to know more about the boroughs?
Find out more about the 5 Boroughs of NYC
Renting in NYC
Rent Prices according to Zumper show the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in New York, NY is currently $3,199 with 2,523 apartments for rent! This is a 31% increase compared to the previous year.
Zumper actually have a huge wealth of information on renting in NYC (and all across the US!!) and should be your go-to for upto date information on rentals and the market in the area you are looking!
Zumper is used by millions of renters to find houses, rooms, condos, or apartments for rent.
Its super easy to apply online – Submit digital rental applications and credit reports with Zumper’s screening service, powered by TransUnion™.
Top Quality listings – Zumpers inventory is updated in real-time, so you’ll always see new rentals on Zumper first.
Constantly updated Realtime alerts – Filter by location, price range, bedroom count, pet-friendly, or amenity and set an alert to get notifications when a new listing is posted.
The Bottom Line…
Moving to the incredible NYC is a incredible opportunity, the diversity, the culture, the LIFE. Its the city that never sleeps and where dreams are made.
Just be sure to choose where you live well, you dont want to be living somewhere you can barely afford, leaving you not able to get out and live the NYC dream! You also want to ensure you are in a area which you can thrive in, look at all the different boroughs and the life and soul in each area.
Go live your best life!
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That was such an interesting read! I think if I were to move to NY I’d definitely pick a place in Queens, it sounds like such a good place to live!! Shame it’s in the US haha!
Em x – https://earhlyem.co.uk
Wow it is expensive there. I went there a few years ago and loved it. It is a bustling place full of culture, especially at Christmas. Great piece!