8 questions to answer before moving to New York City

How to move to NYC? Discover the things you need to know before moving to NYC from the costs of renting and groceries to the salaries and using the subway.

Ivandzhelin

7 minute read

·

Updated on 24 Sep 2024

·

Moving

Moving to NYC can be an exhilarating adventure, but it also comes with its unique set of challenges. After all, the saying "If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere" wasn't made up without a reason.

We'll walk you through the 8 essential questions you need to answer before packing your bags and embarking on your journey to the city that never sleeps. From finding the perfect apartment to mastering the subway system, we've got you covered with all the tips for moving to NYC.

Before you decide to move to NYC, it's good to save between $10,000 and $20,000. But will this be enough to cover your costs in the most expensive city in the world? Well, with this amount of savings you'll be able to fall back on them for a few months while living in NYC as the average monthly cost of living in NYC is $4,130 for a single person.

If you're a student at one of the universities in NYC, you'll need between $2,200 and $2,377 monthly to cover your living expenses.

Yes, you can, but we advise against it. Moving to NYC without a secure job is risky due to the high living costs and competitive job market. It's better to have a job lined up before your move. This approach simplifies your search for homes for rent in New York, as you'll already know your workplace location and be able to show the landlord proof of stable income.

A gross annual salary between $90,000 and $100,000 (or between $7,500 and $8,333 monthly) is enough to move to NYC as it will cover your basic living expenses and leave you with enough money to spend on yourself.

Check out our guide to the average salaries in NYC to learn more about what is a good salary for New York and the factors affecting your salary.

Tip for moving to New York City: Look into income taxes before moving, as New York has one of the highest tax rates in the US, taxing on both federal and state levels. You pay, on average, 11.67% on a federal level and 4.88% on a state level. So, if your annual gross income is $90,000, your earnings will be $72,843 after taxes.

One of the things to consider before moving to NYC is your living situation. While you can wait until you arrive in the city to find a place, the NYC rental market is expensive and competitive. It's better to secure your accommodation as early as possible. Let's focus on the 2 crucial factors: location and space.

Location

Selecting the right New York neighborhood is pivotal as it shapes your entire city experience. Will it be the central yet expensive Midtown or the more affordable but distant Bed-Stuy? Perhaps the trendy Williamsburg or the vibrant Harlem?

Consider crucial factors such as location, atmosphere, quality of life, safety, and affordability in your neighborhood search. Generally, Manhattan has the highest rents at $4,547, followed by Brooklyn ($3,700) and Queens ($3,181).

Explore our best New York neighborhoods guide, featuring top picks like Midtown and Williamsburg. If you're on a tight budget, definitely check our guide to the cheapest neighborhoods in New York, such as Harlem and Crown Heights.

Space

With an average rental price of $3,555 monthly, renting in New York is expensive. Before finding an apartment in this US city, consider how much you can spend on rent or if you want to live with roommates or by yourself. The city has an array of housing options from brownstones and co-ops to townhomes and single-family homes.

If you're on a budget look into living with roommates so you can split rent and bills with them. The average price for a rental room is $1,559 monthly. Choosing to live by yourself means spending between $3,668 (for a studio) and $3,956 (for 1-bedroom apartment) monthly.

Tip for finding housing in New York City

With HousingAnywhere, you can simplify the process of finding accommodation in New York. You can book from anywhere globally, ensuring your new home is ready upon moving to the US. For peace of mind, you're covered by our Tenant Protection. Plus, you can avoid lengthy application procedures: simply provide your ID, work contract/student registration, and bank statement to the landlord. Approval is streamlined, and you’ll be charged a small one-time service fee, eliminating brokerage fees.

You can take your car with you when you’re moving to NYC, but you should account for things like parking (expensive and difficult to find a spot) and traffic (congested with long waiting times). Another thing to consider is gas prices. With $4.54 per gallon, New York has one of the highest gas prices in the US.

The NYC subway has the most extensive train coverage in the US and can be used with a monthly pass for $132, so you can get to anywhere in the city for cheap.

Tip: The Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) routinely posts on X (formally known as Twitter) if there are any disruptions, so it’s helpful to follow them (google “mta delays twitter”).

Another tip for living in NYC and using the subway is to stay vigilant of pickpocketing.

Overall yes. Like everything else, food is expensive in New York. Especially if you’re dining out. Depending on where you eat, you can expect to spend between $10 and $15 for breakfast or lunch and between $20 and $30 for dinner.

What’s most important is to keep tabs on what supermarkets you’re shopping from. Whole Foods and Gristedes offer excellent quality food, but they aren’t good for your budget. If you’re looking to save on groceries, we recommend Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Costco, Asian supermarkets, street vendors, or vegetable carts. Some supermarkets in Manhattan (especially the Upper East and West Side) have higher prices than the rest of the city.

According to the New York tenant rights, tenants should be provided with hot water and heating throughout the year. On the one hand, you won’t have to worry about setting them up yourself. On the other hand, you don’t have control over the temperature (hot water should be at 120°F/49°C, and the heating depends on the season).

Utilities like electricity, internet, cooling, garbage, and laundry will likely need to be covered by you in addition to your rent. As New York summers can get hot (as high as 92°F/33°C), it’s best to buy an AC once you move. Prices for cooling units start at around $200, and it costs around $0.14 per hour to run.

One thing to know before moving to NYC is that most accommodations in the city come without a washing machine. A week’s worth of laundry will cost between $7 and $10 at the laundromat and between $10 and $20 at the dry cleaner's.

Depends. If you’re looking for an easier and smoother move and are flexible with the rental price, move between June and September. If you’re looking to save on rent and don’t mind lugging a couch in the snow, move to NYC between February and April. Rental prices decrease in this period, but you’ll definitely have to move in severe conditions.

1. Rent a house after you know where you'll be working or studying. If the distance isn't a factor but budget is, look into neighborhoods like Inwood, Astoria, or Harlem. Check out our guide on how to rent an apartment in the US to learn more about the process.
2. Make a realistic moving budget, as it’s easy to lose tack of how much you’re spending. Set a range for how much you’re going to spend on moving your belongings, plane tickets and buying furniture (if your need to).
3. Inform your bank you're moving so your account doesn't get frozen for suspicious activity.
4. Weigh up the pros and cons of living in NYC, to get a better idea of how your life might look like once you’ve moved to New York.
5. Read up on your tenant rights in NYC as this will help you know what you're entitled to, such as who is responsible for repairs.
6. Fall in love with staying active as you'll be walking a lot and climbing plenty of stairs once you move to New York City.
7. Learn the train numbers and letters as New Yorkers refer to them, not to the colors of the lines.
8. Check out Zocdoc if you need to visit a doctor, as it provides you with a list of all specialists in the New York area who work with your health insurance.
9. Don’t forget to save, by setting aside some of your money each month for savings and unexpected expenses.
10. Plan your commute accordingly, as it takes a long time to get anywhere in the city. Don't underestimate the walking distance when you're planning your commute.
11. When it rains, it pours, so buy a sturdy umbrella or a nice raincoat and maybe some rain boots. While you’re at it, get a warm winter coat as the winters are pretty cold in New York.
12. Get a Culture Pass, available to holders of The New York, Brooklyn, and Queens public libraries. The card allows you to borrow books but also gives you free access to museums like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA), and the American Museum of Natural History.
13. Check out the social activities in your area or interest happening daily to meet people and make friends in NYC.
14. Let go of the idea you have of New York as reality might not match it. It's better to have a clean slate and be open to experiences.

From navigating the subway to grocery and managing bills, you're now armed with the knowledge to tackle the challenges that with moving to New York City. We wish you the best of luck as you embark on this new adventure. Welcome to the city that never sleeps, and may your dreams find their home here!