Living in a foreign country is scary and exciting at the same time. The change of scenery and adapting to a different cultural eco-system makes moving to NYC quite overwhelming. This city is fast, awake, and exhausting, and it can offer you things no other city can. For centuries, it served as a great inspiration to many writers, musicians, and artists from all over the world. They’ve called it The Capital of the World, The City of Dreams, The City That Never Sleeps, The Center of the Universe, and many other names. It’s safe to say that New York City lives up to all of its nicknames. Once you take a bite of The Big Apple, you will never want to live anywhere else.
NYC – The Capital of the World
Walking the streets of New York, you can hear almost 200 languages being spoken. NYC is the most culturally diverse city in the entire world. Everyone is attracted to its shiny promising lights –over 40% of the Big Apple’s population was born outside of the US. Such remarkable diversity created a mixture of nationalities, ethnicities, and origins, making this city a place of possibilities. Whatever you need, you can find it in NYC if you know where to look.
The city is made of Five Boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx. Each of them is a city for itself with an overwhelming number of neighborhoods, streets, and enclaves. The fusion they create influences lifestyles, art, cuisine, and even leading fashion trends.
The transition from tourist to New Yorker can take awhile
When you first come to New York, you will probably want to take the well-known tourist route. From the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building to Broadway, you will be impressed by the variety of things you can see. The Big Apple is home to almost 100 museums! It will take some time for you to experience all of the magnificence. Therefore, it’s good to know where to start. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the first must-see attraction, especially if you are a culture enthusiast.
However, even the more outdoorsy expats won’t be disappointed. Almost 30% of NYC is covered in green surfaces. Not to mention the areas around the city that are popular family vacation destinations. Here, every season has its perks. There is nothing like autumn in Central Park or spring at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. You can witness the nature awakening with cherry blossoms and different flower displays.
The City gives, but it also takes
If you’re moving to NYC because of a job, you probably have your housing situation sorted out. If not, finding a home in NYC can be quite a problem. Overall costs of living in New York are almost 100% higher than the US average. This is especially noticeable when it comes to housing and utility expenses. The same goes for renting. The price will vary on the part of the city and neighborhood you choose. For example, a one-bedroom apartment outside the City Center can cost $1,600.00 – $3,000.00 a month, while three-bedroom apartments in the same area go for $2,400.00 – $6.000.00. Therefore, you must make a good financial plan if you intend to make it in the Big Apple.
Still, that is not the only problem. Like many other big cities, NYC has a lack of space. Affordable studios and apartments are pretty small, so make sure you can adapt to different living conditions. You might need to optimize your new home based on the available space, especially if you’re sharing an apartment with someone else. One of the ways to solve that issue is to rent a storage space nearby. By finding a secure facility for your possessions, your things will be safe, while you will have all the necessary commodity in your new NYC home.
Getting around in NYC
Sometimes, even walking down the street is an adventure for itself in NYC. The city is always crowded with people and, unfortunately, traffic. You know you’ve become a real New Yorker if your cab has been stolen at least a dozen times. Everything in New York is fast and expensive. Therefore, driving a car is not the most time and cost-effective option here. Parking expenses can be over 600 dollars per month! And not to mention the lack of parking space. That’s why most New Yorkers use other means of public transportation, mainly the bus and the Subway.
Useful sources when it comes to starting in a new city
Getting around in a foreign city can be challenging. Therefore, knowing services that will help you when moving to NYC is a must. The process of relocating will be easier if you know who to turn to and where to find specific information:
- NY Gov.: The Official website of New York State with plenty of content regarding services, news, programs, and different opportunities
- State.Gov: Bureau of Consular Affairs website with all necessary visa information
- New York Foreign Consulates: A list of Foreign Embassies and their representatives in the City
- Department of Motor Vehicles: A place where can you find out everything you need to know about sorting out your driver’s license
- Manhattan Movers NYC: A reliable moving company that can help you relocate smoothly
The truth about moving to NYC
You think you know NYC from movies, shows, music, and literature, but is it really like that? If you ask people about their experiences, you will hear different answers. Some love it, and some don’t. Living in NYC is like dating a very complex person. This person is beautiful, intelligent, motivating but also incredibly high-maintenance and expensive. Still, the good moments will likely make you forget the bad ones. Once you figure out ways to save enough money, you surely won’t regret moving to NYC.
