9 Factors to Consider Before Moving to NYC
9 Factors to Consider Before Moving to NYC
8.3 million people live in New York City. About 300,000 of them leave every year.
Some leave because the city changed them. Others leave because it didn't change them enough. Most leave because they underestimated what living here actually costs—not just in money, but in space, time, and sanity.
If you're thinking about moving to NYC, this guide will help you figure out whether you're ready for what's coming.
2. Cost of Living in NYC
New York City is known for its high cost of living. Everything from rent to groceries costs more in the Big Apple.
It’s important to note, though, that some neighborhoods are more expensive than others. For example, if you want to live in Manhattan on the Upper East Side or Upper West Side, you’ll spend much more than you would when living in Staten Island or The Bronx.
Overview of cost of living in NYC
This table breaks down some of the most significant costs to keep in mind when budgeting and preparing for life after your move:
Rent | Utilities | Groceries | Transportation |
$3,605-$7,119 per month* | $137.95 per month** | $486 per month | $127 per month*** |
*Apartment List shares the following average prices for different apartment sizes in New York City:
Studio: $3,605
1-Bedroom Apartment: $4,678
2-Bedroom Apartment: $5,871
3+ Bedrooms: $7,119
** Numbeo estimates $166.29 for basic utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, trash) for a 915-square-foot apartment, plus $71.66 monthly for the internet.
***New York City’s Metro Transit Authority charges $127 for a monthly MetroCard.
How much do I need to live in NYC?
New York City’s average annual household income is $113,315. The median household income is $70,663 per year.
Residents aged 25-44 earn the most, with a median salary of $87,626. Those between 45 and 64 make a median salary of $76,018.
You can still live comfortably in New York City if you earn less than these amounts. However, you might need to adjust your expectations.
3. Top-Rated Schools in NYC
If you have kids, you’ll want to consider schools when deciding where to live.
New York City has many excellent public and private schools. You can find good options on either end of the spectrum.
Overview of the NYC school system
New York City’s school system is one of the largest in the country, with over 1.1 million students enrolled in approximately 1,800 public schools.
There’s also a great deal of diversity within the city’s schools. Forty percent of public school students are Hispanic, 26 percent are black, 16 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander, and 15 percent are white.
Top-rated public schools in NYC
If you’re interested in sending your kids to public school, this table features four of the top-ranked options:
School Name | Location | Tuition | Grade Levels |
281 9th Avenue | N/A | Pre-K-5 | |
100 W 77th Street | N/A | K-8 | |
333 W 17th Street | N/A | 6-8 | |
100 Amsterdam Avenue | N/A | 9-12 |
Top-rated private schools in NYC
For those who prefer a private education, here are the city’s top four private schools:
School Name | Location | Tuition | Grade Levels |
139 West 91st Street | $47,965 | K-12 | |
5250 Fieldston Road | $52,575 | K-12 | |
610 E 83rs Street | $58,700 | K-12 | |
231 West 246th Street | $59,800 | Pre-K-12 |
4. NYC Transportation Guide
New York City residents have several options for getting around town. From riding the subway and bus to taking cabs and using rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber, you can easily navigate the city without a vehicle.
Overview of the NYC transportation system
New York’s primary transportation system is the subway, which has a daily ridership of 2.4 million people. The bus system comes in second with a daily ridership of 1.2 million.
Public transportation is relatively affordable in New York City as well. The fare for most subway and bus riders is $2.75. However, express buses cost $6.75.
A metro card provides unlimited bus and subway rides for $127 for a 30-day pass or $33 for a seven-day pass (a good option for visitors).
How to get around NYC by subway, bus, and taxi
Do your homework before using the subway, bus system, or taxis to get around New York. Trying to catch the subway or flag down a cab can get hectic, so it helps to know what you’re doing before you try.
Subway
Consider downloading the MYmta app (available on iPhone and Android) to plan your trips, access maps, and check arrival times. You can pay for subway rides with your metro card, credit card, debit card, or smart device.
The following are some essential tips to keep in mind when riding the subway for the first time:
Let others exit before boarding (stand to the side of the doors)
Move to the center of the car after boarding
Don’t hold the doors open
Avoid taking up more than one seat while riding, and keep all your belongings close to you. This guide from the MTA features a more detailed breakdown of how to ride the subway.
Bus
You can also use the MYmta app to plan your bus trips. Payment options are the same as the subway as well.
New York City offers the following bus options:
Local buses
Select Bus Service buses (fewer stops, travel on priority routes, board at all doors)
Limited buses (look like local buses but make fewer stops)
Express buses (look like coach buses and run between boroughs)
When riding the bus, don’t block seats or aisles. Push a mounted yellow tape strip, pull a yellow cord, or press a red stop button when you get close to your bus stop. Always exit through the rear doors, too.
Taxi
Use the following criteria to determine a taxi’s status:
When only the center light is lit, the cab is available
If no lights are lit, the cab is occupied
When the entire panel is lit, the cab is off-duty
5. Neighborhoods in NYC
New York City has five boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Each borough has its own unique characteristics. For example, Manhattan is home to Wall Street and most of Broadway (two miles of the famous street are located in the Bronx).
The boroughs are each divided into several neighborhoods, which also appeal to different types of New Yorkers.
Popular neighborhoods in NYC
Curious about where you should look for apartments in New York City? The list below features some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods:
Manhattan:
Upper West Side
Upper East Side
Greenwich Village
Queens:
Bayside
Long Island City
Astoria
Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Heights
Williamsburg
Park Slope
The Bronx:
Baychester
Morris Park
Parkchester
Staten Island:
Huguenot
Great Kills
St. George
Manhattan is known for having some of the highest rent prices, whereas Staten Island offers some of the city’s lowest (although you will be farther away from many of its top attractions and much of its nightlife).
Differences in rent and cost of living across neighborhoods
How much will living in the most popular NYC neighborhoods in each of the five boroughs cost? Find out in the table below:
Location | Average Rent | Room Size |
Upper West Side (Manhattan) | $4,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Bayside (Queens) | $2,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Brooklyn Heights (Brooklyn) | $3,817 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Baychester (The Bronx) | $1,787 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Huguenot (Staten Island) | $1,350 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Tips for choosing the right neighborhood for your needs
If you’re not sure which borough and community to focus on during your apartment hunt, ask yourself the following questions:
How close is this neighborhood to my job?
How close is it to public transportation (subway stations, bus stops, etc.)
What is the average rent in this neighborhood? Can I afford it myself, or will I need to find roommates?
What activities and entertainment options does this neighborhood offer?
How much traffic does this neighborhood typically experience during rush hour?
Is this neighborhood generally considered safe?
How easy will it be for movers and moving trucks to navigate this neighborhood?
6. Job Market in NYC
Don’t have a job lined up in the city yet? If so, you’re in luck. Many businesses in NYC are looking for employees.
Overview of the NYC job market
Like many parts of the country, New York City is currently experiencing a labor shortage. Businesses across various industries are seeking skilled and unskilled workers to help them keep up with operations and continue serving customers or clients.
Industries with the most job opportunities
The following industries currently have the most job openings for New Yorkers looking for work:
Restaurants
Hospitality
Cannabis
Healthcare
Offshore Wind
Medical billing
Education
Tech/Software Development
Many of the available jobs in these industries offer training, so even those who don’t have a traditional educational background may still be able to qualify and jump-start their careers.
Tips for job hunting in NYC
Because New York City is so busy and home to many different types of businesses, looking for a job can be overwhelming. These tips can help you narrow down your options and get hired sooner:
Update your resume: Include specific hard and soft skills (copywriting, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, leadership, collaboration, etc.)
Check NYC-specific job sites: New York Jobs and Built in NYC are popular sites that exclusively feature jobs for New Yorkers. You can also narrow your location on other sites to ensure you only find opportunities in NYC.
Be flexible: You must be flexible when searching for jobs like you are when finding housing. Don’t write a job off just because you don’t have every single qualification required; if you check most boxes, you could still be a good fit (especially since so many NYC businesses are desperate for employees).
If you’re looking for resources to help you enhance your skills or find job opportunities, New York Works is another helpful site to check out.
7. Healthcare in NYC
New York City has a robust healthcare system.
For example, NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health system in the nation. The organization offers quality, affordable care in all of the city’s neighborhoods.
Mount Sinai Health System is another prevalent option in the city, featuring a variety of hospitals and clinics.
Overview of the healthcare system in NYC
Regardless of your location or background, you can expect to receive quality healthcare in New York City.
NYC Health + Hospitals features over 70 locations throughout the state, with over 1.1 million New Yorkers receiving care through the organization. It employs 43,000 healthcare professionals who speak over 200 languages.
Mount Sinai Health System offers over 400 community locations, more than 42,000 employees, and 38 institutions.
Top-rated hospitals and healthcare providers
If you’re concerned about proximity to a trustworthy healthcare facility and skilled providers, consider living near one of these hospitals:
The Mount Sinai Hospital: Located at One Gustave L Levy Place, near Central Park; easily accessible via the 4,5, and 6 subway lines.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center: Located at 630 West 183rd Street; easily accessible via the 1, A, and C subway lines.
Mount Sinai Queens: Located at 25-10 30th Avenue; easily accessible via the N, R, W, E, and M subway lines.
Tips for finding healthcare providers in NYC
If you need help finding a healthcare provider in New York City (from a primary care physician to a specialist), these tips can help you with your search:
Check your insurance plan to see which providers are covered by your provider
Consider their office location and how convenient it is to your home or office
Read reviews from past patients to learn more about the provider’s reputation
Ensure they’re board-certified and licensed to work in New York City
8. Entertainment and Culture in NYC
There’s no shortage of things to do in New York City, whether you’re interested in theater, sports, history, books, or anything in between. You can find something to do anytime and anywhere in New York City if you know where to look.
Top-rated museums, theaters, and cultural institutions
If you want to check out some of the city’s most famous museums, theaters, and cultural institutions, add the following places to your list:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
9. Safety and Crime in NYC
It’s understandable to have concerns about safety in New York City, especially if you’ve never lived in such a busy area before. New York City, in general, is relatively safe as long as you use some common sense.
Overview of crime rates in NYC
As with any city, some New York City neighborhoods are considered safer than others.
An analysis of crime statistics conducted by the Southwest Journal revealed the following as the 11 most dangerous neighborhoods in the city:
Hunts Point (South Bronx)
Brownsville (Brooklyn)
Mott Haven (South Bronx)
Bedford-Stuyvesant (Brooklyn)
Midtown (Manhattan)
East Harlem (Manhattan)
Fordham (The Bronx)
Highbridge (West Bronx)
Bushwick (Brooklyn)
Tremont (The Bronx)
Jamaica (Queens)
Although some New York City neighborhoods are riskier than others, the city as a whole is currently safer than it’s been in past years.
The latest statistics show a significant reduction in crime throughout New York City during the first quarter of 2023. The city specifically saw drops in five of its seven index crime categories:
Murder decreased by 12.7 percent
Rape decreased by 7.4 percent
Robbery decreased by 1.8 percent
Burglary decreased by 6.1 percent
Larceny decreased by 2.4 percent
The number of shooting victims in New York City also decreased by 17.5 percent in the first quarter.
Tips for staying safe in NYC
Whether you live in the Bronx or Staten Island, you can stay safe in any part of NYC if you follow some general guidelines:
Never get into an unmarked cab
Stick to main streets and pathways when walking
Plot your route in advance
Try to ride in the conductor’s car when riding the subway at night
Keep belongings close to your body and pay attention to your surroundings
When going out at night, go with a group for extra safety
Always lock the doors and windows to your apartment, vehicle, etc.
Moving to NYC - key takeaways
Moving to New York City is a big undertaking. It’s a busy city with a high cost of living and a competitive real estate market.
With proper planning -- especially when budgeting, choosing an apartment and neighborhood, and planning how to utilize the transportation system -- you can set yourself up for an enjoyable life in the city.
Final advice for moving to NYC
To further simplify your move to New York City, contact local moving companies and ask for help.
Professionals can handle tasks like packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking to help you settle in sooner and avoid some of the stress that comes with a big move.