Welcome to New York, the City that Never Sleeps. With a population of more than 8.5 million people, this city is one of the most crowded and vivid cities in the world. Since the majority of people there are immigrants, there are more than 800 languages spoken, which also places NY at the top of the world’s most linguistically diverse cities. It takes some time to get used to the big city, especially if you’re coming from a smaller town. For anyone who is moving to New York, or just thinking about it, here is a list of some facts you should know about life there, and things you should expect.
Choosing the neighborhood
New York is divided into 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island, and each of them has a unique vibe. Queens is the largest by area, and Brooklyn by population. Manhattan is the most expensive, while the rent is the cheapest in the Bronx. Staten Island is the most isolated from the others. Get ready to face traffic jams, crowds, and noise everywhere and every day. But of course, there are quiet, residential neighborhoods further from the city center, for example in Queens.
At the end of a hectic day, it’s really important that you are going back to your apartment in a neighborhood that gives you a “home” feeling. That feeling can significantly improve the quality of your life. Instead of picking a place considering biased conceptions and rumors about different boroughs, spend some time researching and exploring the areas, set up your priorities, and the right place will show up.
Finding an apartment
New York apartments are usually small. It means you’ll have no space for all your belongings. The best solution is to rent a storage place if you don’t want to get rid of most of your stuff. High rent prices are the reason why many newcomers decide to find roommates. If you are moving with a family, consider quieter and less expensive neighborhoods, like Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, or Sunnyside and Woodside in Queens. New York’s rental market is nutty, so you may have to pay a broker’s fee if you want to get an apartment. Anyway, it’s the faster way of getting one, because competition for non-fee apartments is insane.
Costs and taxes
New York has some of the highest taxes in the U.S. There are three different income taxes that NY residents pay: the federal income tax, the state income tax, and the city income tax, and in some cases, tax rates can be higher than 50% of your income.
The cost of living in New York is about 22 percent higher than the national average, which means living here is really pricey. New York City is among the most expensive cities in the U.S. A significant amount of money goes on essentials like rent, groceries, or moving around. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t affordable places or amenities, you just have to research the area a bit, once you settle.
Get used to walking
Get a pair of good shoes, and prepare yourself – you’ll walk more than ever. For most New Yorkers, except maybe for those who live close to the subway stops, walking a few miles per day is just part of a routine. And, don’t be surprised, everyone walks really fast, so forget about relaxed strolls down the street. If you want something like that, go to the park. The subway system is maybe old, but it runs 24/7, and there is a bus network that connects every borough. Also, there are taxis everywhere, if you don’t mind spending some cash. Public transportation is vast and efficient, although a bit confusing at first until you get used to it. Keep in mind that Stated Island is the only borough that is not connected to the subway system, but it has fine ferry service.
Owning a car in a city like this is more trouble than it’s worth. Due to constant traffic jams, most of the time you’ll get somewhere faster if you walk or get a subway. Free parking places are rare and almost impossible to grab. If you’re lucky enough, at the end of the day you’ll find a free parking place after “only” 30 minutes of searching, and then – walk again, back to your home.
Unpredictable weather
There’s one thing about the weather that can catch novices off guard: the rain. It rains a lot in NY, and much of it starts as sudden, heavy pours. So, walking around without an umbrella is like playing Russian roulette. In winter, you may experience a giant snowstorm that can force the city to paralyze for a few hours, Sometimes, even for days.
Famous and ordinary places
New York is literally the best place to be if you are looking for new experiences and cool things to do. There are hundreds of museums and other cultural facilities, entertainment places, etc. Manhattan is the “cultural center of the world”, with most defining features like the Empire State Building, Wall Street, Times Square, One World Trade Center, Broadway, and many more. New York constantly challenges your expectations of what this city has to offer, be ready to explore it all.
The nickname, The City That Never Sleeps, means that something always happens somewhere, 24/7. There are good chances that you’ll find bars, stores, drugstores, restaurants, gyms, spa centers, and whatever else comes to your mind, working in the middle of the night or any other time. Necessary or not, there are plenty of stores and places that are open around the clock.
Now when you know what to expect, pack your stuff and call a reliable NJ moving company. Once you move in, learn about the place you’re living, be respectful to people who are already there, and be a good neighbor – and sooner than you think, you’ll fall in love with this amazing city and start calling it “home”.